MUNICH (FIBA Europe Cup) - The encounter between Elan Chalon and Nanterre 92 in the FIBA Europe Cup Finals should be entertaining one with both teams playing open and offensive-minded basketball, says basketball journalist Gabriel Pantel-Jouve.

The Editor-in-Chief of French basketball website BeBasket.fr predicts a close-fought battle between two teams who share not only the country they represent, but also very similar philosophies on the court.

But above everything else, they are good in finding players. Nobody knew Cameron Clark before this season, just like nobody knew Spencer Butterfield outside of Lithuania. And they could end up making big career moves after this season."

J-3 avant la finale et Jour de match ! Supporter de l' Élan Chalon : c'est à vous. @ELANCHALON pic.twitter.com/xFkKUEIzxg

— Le Grand Chalon (@LeGrandChalon) April 15, 2017

According to Pantel-Jouve, Elan Chalon's strength lies in the trio of John Roberson, Cameron Clark and Moustapha Fall, but it might be contributions from the bench that could swing the outcome one way or the other.

"Chalon have been really good when their bench turns up and brings something positive to the game. Since their budget isn't huge, Chalon gambled a little bit on their bench. Some games, they play well, others – not so much. And Roberson, Clark and Fall can't do everything by themselves every single game," the French journalist says, pointing out Jeremy Nzeulie, Lance Harris and Axel Bouteille as the likely x-factors to keep an eye on.

On the other end, what are the strengths of Nanterre?

"They have a winning culture, like we saw in the second game of the Semi-Finals in Bonn. Since 2011, they have won a number of titles – the French League, the French Cup, the French Super Cup, the FIBA EuroChallenge," says Pantel-Jouve, firing off the recent achievements of coach Pascal Donnadieu's team, who will also have the advantage of playing the second game at home.

Although the teams are separated by just a couple of wins in the domestic championship, Elan Chalon have won both of the head-to-head meetings against Nanterre, which might give the Chalon-sur-Saone side a small psychological edge.

However, Pantel-Jouve doesn't put much significance in the results on the home front: "I don't think what happened in Pro A is particularly meaningful, especially as Nanterre really should have won the last game on the road."

What does potentially make things harder for coach Donnadieu, he says, is the busier schedule, which will see them battle Le Mans in the French Cup Final, while the already-eliminated Chalon will get a weekend off in between the two FIBA Europe Cup legs.

At the end of the day, who will lift the FIBA Europe Cup trophy?

"Historically, Nanterre have been really good in the Finals. As I said, they have a winning culture. Meanwhile, Chalon have lost a lot of decisive games recently – Leaders Cup, French Cup, FIBA Europe Cup Semi-Finals last year. And also, Nanterre get to play the second game at home. But it's going to be really close," offered Pantel-Jouve - a prediction that seems to slightly favor coach Donnadieu's side, but he did put an emphasis on the tie being a close-knit affair.

"It will be open basketball between two offensive-minded teams. But you have to defend in the Finals and Chalon, contrary to seasons past, have managed to do it on occasion this year. I think the play of Moustapha Fall will be key. If he doesn't pick up too many quick fouls, his impact will be really important."

FIBA