ELITE 2 Playoffs: Pau Forces Game Three After Dominant Second-Half Performance in Poitiers

Espoirs Pau-Lacq-Orthez delivered when it mattered most. After falling behind at halftime, the Béarnais mounted a spectacular second-half comeback to defeat Poitiers 81-72 in Game Two of the Elite 2 playoff final, keeping their championship hopes alive. The series is now tied at 1-1, with everything to be decided in Game Three on Thursday, June 18, at the Palais des Sports in Pau.

Poitiers Dominated Early Behind Idowu

Poitiers came out with intensity and purpose, controlling the first half much as they had in Game One. Samuel Idowu was the catalyst, pouring in 15 points by halftime to lead the PB86 offense. The Poitevins’ superior tempo management and execution on both ends of the floor gave them a 45-39 halftime lead in front of a packed Futuroscope Arena.

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Pau, by contrast, struggled early. The Béarnais shot just 1-for-14 from three-point range in the first half and looked out of sync defensively. Poitiers’ control was evident — they led for nearly 16 minutes of the opening 20, and appeared well-positioned to take a commanding 2-0 series lead.

But Idowu’s impact would prove fleeting. The British forward disappeared in the second half, playing just five minutes after the break, and Poitiers’ offensive flow dried up dramatically.

Pau’s Second-Half Masterclass

The turnaround was stunning. Pau came out with renewed purpose and defensive intensity, holding Poitiers to just 27 points and a shocking 24% shooting in the second half. Bastien Pinault, who had been invisible in the first half with just 2 points on 1-for-3 shooting, found his rhythm with crucial three-pointers to spark the comeback.

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Sitraka Raharimanantoanina was exceptional in limited minutes, posting 21 points of evaluation while creating havoc on the Poitiers defense with his mid-range scoring. By the 35-minute mark, Pau had built a commanding 76-68 lead. The Béarnais’ suffocating defense and improved three-point shooting (though still just 4-for-22 overall) proved too much for a Poitiers team that also struggled from the free-throw line, making just 10 of 21 attempts.

Injury Cloud Over Game Three

The victory came with a significant concern. Raharimanantoanina suffered a knee injury with just 1:08 remaining in the game while pursuing a rebound. The Madagascan big man, who has been crucial to Pau’s playoff run, will undergo an MRI on June 16 to determine his availability for the decisive Game Three.

« I was in a lot of pain at first, but I didn’t feel anything tear, so that reassures me a bit, » Raharimanantoanina said after the match. His status for Thursday remains uncertain — a major question mark heading into the winner-take-all finale.

Everything on the Line Thursday

Pau will have the home-court advantage they fought for all season long, with the Palais des Sports expected to be packed for what promises to be an electric atmosphere. The Béarnais, who finished second in the regular season, have shown they can compete with Poitiers when they execute defensively and take care of the basketball.

Poitiers, meanwhile, will be frustrated. They controlled Game Two for 20 minutes but were unable to maintain that level, and Marcus Hammond, who averaged 15.4 points in the regular season, has been largely neutralized in both playoff games (4 points on 2-for-7 shooting in Game Two).

The Elite 2 championship — and automatic promotion to the Betclic ELITE for the 2026-2027 season — will be decided Thursday night at 22:30 in Pau. Everything is still to play for.