Elan Bearnais Pau-Lacq-Orthez are champions of France at U18 Elite level, holding off a furious Limoges CSP comeback to win the final 83-78 at the Salle des Peupliers in Bordeaux a title-game clash between two of French basketball's most storied clubs.
Coach Alexis Jousset's side succeed the Antibes Sharks as national champions after a near-flawless Final Four weekend. Pau set the tone early in the final, racing to a 26-16 lead after the first quarter and maintaining a seven-point cushion at halftime (40-33). But Limoges, coached by Clement More, roared back to within 60-58 by the end of the third quarter, setting up a frantic final 10 minutes. The young Bearnais held their nerve in the money time, refusing to crack under pressure to seal a five-point victory.
The day before, Pau had punched their ticket to the final with an authoritative defensive display, beating Blois 84-69 in the semifinal.
Not necessarily favorites at the outset a roster with very good players but no high-level blue-chip prospects the Pau U18s won simply by playing as a team on both ends of the floor. The gold-medal-winning group included Benjamin Caudoux, Ludjan Euphrasie, Eitel Nandjou, Louis Sanchez, Fallou Faye, Clement More, Soan Delsarte, Patrick Delsol, Jaden Lavie-Cardona, Noa Louis, and Zackary Kane, guided by coaches Alexis Jousset and Thomas Lucq.
The triumph evoked memories of the great years of the senior Elan Bearnais a two-time French Pro A power with the club's youth section now placing Pau atop the national U18 game. The young champions were honored by the EBPLO crowd before the senior team's playoff opener against Champagne Basket.