The European dream for FC Porto basketball hit a roadblock. They lost a crucial game to Élan Chalon, falling 79-100. This result means they will not reach the Champions League regular phase for the first time. The Champions League is the third level of European basketball competition. Another Portuguese team, Benfica, already holds a direct spot in that tournament.
FC Porto had shown great fight in their previous game, making an incredible comeback against Falco Szombathely. However, they could not repeat that magic against the French side. The semi-final match of Qualifying Tournament 3 proved too tough. Élan Chalon, a strong club from France, made their quality count.
At halftime, the score was still close, with FC Porto trailing by only six points. The team made some key mistakes, though. They gave the ball away too often due to the opponent’s intense full-court pressure. They also struggled to grab defensive rebounds. These problems only got worse in the second half. Élan Chalon, a two-time French champion (2012, 2017), pulled away. They effectively sealed the win in the third quarter with a dominant 29-18 run.
Coach Fernando Sá’s team ended the game with 21 turnovers. Guard Jalen Riley was responsible for five of those. He often found himself double-teamed when bringing the ball up the court. On defense, they gave up 26 offensive rebounds to Élan Chalon. While FC Porto grabbed 21 offensive rebounds themselves, those extra chances for the French team proved costly.
Despite the tough loss, some players stood out. Javian Davis, a center who joined from Imortal, put up 21 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. He was named the MVP of the Portuguese Liga Betclic last season. Point guard Wes Washpun also played well, contributing 16 points and 5 assists. For Élan Chalon, point guard Jeremiah Hill led the way with 20 points and 5 assists. Hill brings valuable experience from Spain’s Liga ACB.
Without a spot in the Champions League, FC Porto will now move to the FIBA Europe Cup. This will be their fifth straight season in that competition. They will face challenging opponents in the group stage. These include Antwerp Giants from Belgium, Germany’s Rostock Seawolves, and Tartu Ülikool from Estonia. Sporting will also be participating in the FIBA Europe Cup.