Villeneuve d’Ascq wins EuroCup and claims 2nd European title in its history!
Apr 2, 2025
Lilian Bordron
Villeneuve d’Ascq crowned: « Great satisfaction to be here despite the season’s challenges »
EuroCup - Already victorious in Spain, Villeneuve d'Ascq confirmed at the Palacium (84-70) and wins the Women's EuroCup for the second time in its history. A redemptive title, emotionally celebrated by coach Maxime Bézin and Finals MVP Carla Leite.
Photo Credit : Antoine Bodelet
Ten years after its first European title, Villeneuve d’Ascq club, ESBVA-LM, has once again lifted the Women’s EuroCup. Already victorious in the first leg in Ferrol, the Warriors completed the job this Wednesday in a red-hot Palacium arena (84-70). A night of consecration for the whole team, staff, club… and two beaming faces at the final whistle: Maxime Bézin and Carla Leite.
Bézin: « We answered our critics »
Emotional, the northern coach savored this moment in his own way: alone, for a few moments, in the stands. « It’s been 20 years since my father passed away. If I’m in basketball at this level today, it’s thanks to him, for him, » confided Maxime Bézin, deeply moved by this victory. He emphasized the collective performance of a group « that always believed in itself despite setbacks. » Upon his arrival in January, he had already expressed his desire to win the EuroCup:
« I hope no one will believe me next time I say it. I said it was one of the reasons I came to Villeneuve, that there was a winning culture here at ESBVA – shown this Wednesday – and it’s really a great satisfaction to be where we are despite all the issues we encountered during the season. Many people said we had two different faces. We don’t have two different faces, it’s simply that there’s one competition that started in January called EuroCup with an almost complete team and a competition that started in September called La Boulangère Wonderligue where the roster wasn’t complete. So when I hear questions about why we’re here today in EuroCup? Simply because there’s a roster that completed one competition fully and another competition with an incomplete roster for much of the season. That’s the difference.
Now, I think we’ve answered our critics by showing that ESBVA is still here, with all its players, staff, office personnel working behind the scenes who organized something remarkable tonight. And all this is for them too. They deserve it. They deserve to smile tonight because they haven’t always been smiling in the offices, given our results. »
Clear-minded, the Limoges-born coach also praised his staff’s behind-the-scenes work: « What I told the girls before the game was that we were at halftime. We set up a plan, we followed it. And in the end, Ferrol lost track of the game. »
Carla Leite: « I haven’t realized it yet, but I came here for this »
Finals point guard and MVP of the night, Carla Leite made her mark. Energized on the court, the young French international added her first major achievement to her resume: « I haven’t realized it yet, with the celebration and everything. But I came to Villeneuve to win a title, so it’s done. »
She paid tribute to her teammates and the Palacium crowd: « The atmosphere was incredible. When I see the crowd getting excited, it gives me energy. Making them feel emotion makes me feel it too. » And about her duo with Shavonte Zellous, the real catalyst of the game’s start: « What she did for me… She’s incredible. »
Carla Leite also highlighted the serenity transmitted by her coach: « Max was super calm. He didn’t put pressure on us, just the right words. It reassured us. »
What’s next?
The burning question remains: will this European title be enough to open EuroCup doors for ESBVA-LM next season, even though the club won’t play in the LBWL playoffs? « We’ll have to knock on some doors, » hinted Maxime Bézin, who hopes this title can convince European authorities. Meanwhile, Villeneuve must finish its regular season strongly against Lattes-Montpellier before playing in the play-downs.
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