Basket
Emma Meesseman is more than ever the queen of European basketball. The 30-year-old West Flemish native led her club Fenerbahçe Istanbul to the title in the Euroleague as MVP on Sunday. For Meesseman it is already her sixth final victory in the most important European basketball competition, a record.
Fenerbahçe won the final of the Final Four of the Euroleague 106-73 against the French Villeneuve d’Ascq in Mersin, Turkey, on Sunday evening, where Belgian Cats Bethy Mununga and Maxuella Lisowa and national coach Rachid Meziane were in charge. Meesseman was again omnipresent after she had been voted MVP (Most Valuable Player) of the Euroleague Women for the second time earlier in the weekend and therefore the best European player. She also received this honor in 2018. With an average of 18 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists, she once again had an amazing European campaign.
After Euroleague titles with the Russian Ekaterinburg in 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2021, the West Flemish team won a second consecutive European club title with Fenerbahçe Istanbul. With a sixth triumph she equals the record of, among others, the American living legend Diana Taurasi and the Spanish star Alba Torrens. At the age of thirty she has become perhaps the best European player ever. “Don’t ask me what my best European club title is. I think they are all equally beautiful. I don’t live in the past and mainly want to win collective prizes,” said Emma Meesseman.
Next week our compatriot can also win the Turkish title. Then a unique treble – including a win in the Turkish Cup – is a fact for Fenerbahçe. “We now also have two victories in the Euroleague. That is one more than Galatasaray and that is a sensitive issue at Fenerbahçe,” said a laughing Emma Meesseman. For Villeneuve d’Ascq, compatriot Cat Maxuella Lisowa was good for 6 points and 5 assists. Belgian Cat Bethy Mununga scored 1 rebound.
Rachid Mezian Coach of the Year
Lisowa and Mununga are coached by Rachid Mezian at Villeneuve d’Ascq. The Frenchman, who is also at the helm of the Belgian Cats, was named Coach of the Year of the Euroleague Women this weekend. He led the French club to a first ever Final Four and final. 44-year-old Meziane is also having a bad year. Last summer he led the Belgian Cats to their first gold medal at the European Championships. At the Sports Gala in Brussels he was elected Coach of the Year (all sports) of our country and last week Meziane was elected Coach of the Year in the French LFB.
“This is a dream and I don’t want to wake up,” he said. “I would like to thank my fantastic team, the entire staff, the board and especially our fans. Also my wife Stephanie and my two children. They are always there for me,” said an emotional Rachid Meziane. Villeneuve d’Ascq is the top favorite for the French national title in the play-offs. With the Belgian Cats he qualified for the Olympic Games in a packed Antwerp Sports Palace in February. The Cats are an outsider for a medal in Paris. The three finalists and a coach in the EuroLeague final provide a confidence boost towards the Games.
