Aleksa Gulbe and Basket Landes win French Super Cup on historic Roland Garros court

Aleksa Gulbe and Basket Landes defeated Bourges Basket 66:53 on Sunday, September 20, in the "Match des Championnes" to win the French Super Cup. The game was played at an unusual venue — the historic Stade Roland Garros tennis complex, on the roofed Philippe Chatrier center court, which seats 15,000. The match was broadcast free of charge on Sport en France.

The "Match des Championnes" traditionally pits the previous season's French champion against the cup winner. Since Basket Landes won both titles last spring, playoff finalist Bourges Basket was chosen as the opponent.

Julie Barennes' team trailed only in the first quarter, losing it 18:23. Over the following three quarters, Basket Landes took control of the game and secured a convincing win.

Aleksa Gulbe started the match and, in 23 minutes and 22 seconds on court, scored 11 points, making four of eight two-point attempts and one of three three-pointers. The forward grabbed six rebounds, recorded one assist, drew three fouls from opponents, and posted the team's third-best efficiency rating of 11.

Alongside Gulbe in the starting five were captain Camille Droguet, US-born Puerto Rican guard Trinity San Antonio, forward Mariama Daramy, and Nigerian center Murjanatu Musa, who last season played for WNBA club Phoenix Mercury together with Kitija Laksa. The club's general manager is Céline Dumerc, who also leads the French national team and recently won silver with it at the World Cup in Berlin.

A week before the match, Basket Landes announced a record season ticket sale of 3,002, meaning sold-out home games at its 2,500-seat arena.

Super Cup in Poland too

On Saturday, Polish cup winner Sleza Wroclaw hosted the Polish Super Cup match, losing to champions AZS UMCS Lublin 60:78 at home. Digna Strautmane came off the bench and scored two points in 19 minutes, grabbing four rebounds, recording two assists and one steal.