POSTED BY: Eurobasket Center
The caledonian champion JS Vallee-du-Tir is ready to take on the tahitian champion AS Aorai tonight in the Pacific Champions Cup to get a spot in the French Cup. AS Aorai won the last three Pacific Cup and stole the win last year in the final minutes.
Vallee-du-Tir played in all the Pacific Cup but one (in 2004) but the team only won the trophy twice: in 2002 and in 1998. On the other hand, Aorai played in 4 Pacific Cups and won all of them. After last season's stunning loss in Tahiti in the last minutes, JSVDT will be looking for a revenge against the tahitians. Vallee lost 60-64 while they were leading during the most part of the game.
"I have to say that the referees were not really on our side and Benoit Weber got injuried in the end of the game and that really was a blow-out loss" said coach Eric Saminadin. "Playing in the French Cup is a great motivation for our players and we will be playing in front of our home-crowd. This is going to be a tough game and I think the game will be a close one. We will have to be at our best on the defensive end because the tahitian are very good three-point shooters".
JS Vallee-du-Tir has what it takes to compete in this game with players like Fabrice Chaliot, Stephane Saminadin and Yann Mathelon. A win against AS Aorai would be a great way to end the year.
Previous winners:
2005: AS Aorai (Tah) defeated Valele-du-Tir (NC) 64-60
2004: AS Aorai (Tah) defeated Mont-Dore (NC) 77-60
2003: AS Aorai (Tah) defeated Vallee-du-Tir (NC) 72-58
2002: Vallee-du-Tir (NC) defeated Central (Tah) 67-55
2001: Central (Tah) defeated Vallee-du-Tir (NC) 52-46 and 67-59
2000: Central (Tah) defeated Vallee-du-Tir (NC) 73-70 and 74-66
1999: AS Aorai (Tah) defeated Vallee-du-Tir (NC) by forfeit
1998: Vallee-du-Tir (NC) defeated Central (Tah) 59-43 and 62-53
