The fall of the Avenida in France: still no premiere on the horizon!

The Perfumerías Avenida de Salamanca had to lose on Wednesday in a complicated match in Francelosing against Tango Bourges Basketball (80-67). This defeat leaves the team winless in the second phase of the Euroleague.

The start of the match was marked by a balanced pace of play. Each team used different strategies to score points. Perfumerías Avenida took advantage of breakthroughs inside the Burgundian defense, while Bourges’ players alternated between mid-range and long-range shots, clashing with the opposition defense while having to create individual chances.

Perfumerías Avenida’s success in reaching the basket led Olivier Lafargue to neglect the three-point line, which allowed Sika Kone and to an Arica Carter in great shape to score valuable points, allowing his team to finish the first quarter in the lead (18-21) thanks to a last-second three-point shot from Carter.

At the start of the next ten minutes, the Tango Bourges clearly came out with the intention of intensifying its external threat. This was particularly visible with Pauline Astier, who scored two three-pointers and several baskets near the rim, leading Bourges to a 12-7 lead and taking a 30-28 advantage.

The perfumer team managed to maintain the score until the opponent’s basket seemed smaller and smaller. They left at halftime trailing by just two points (36-34).

The return after the break did not live up to coach Anna’s expectations Montañana. A quick 7-0 for the home side quickly put the team in danger, prompting Montañana to call a timeout to avoid an even worse situation.

This timeout was good for Perfumerías Avenida, who then scored six consecutive points to get back into the match and prevent Bourges from taking too much of a lead.

Unfortunately, it was only a brief respite, as the French found their rhythm again and the Perfumerías were unable to maintain a series of effective attacks. They entered the last quarter with a gap of six points (59-53), after being led by ten points during the third quarter.

The positive dynamic created by the Salmantines continued in the last quarter, with an entry 0-8 thanks to Mariella Fasoula who scored six points in a row, and Arica Carter who gave Avenida the lead again for the first time since the first half.

The tension was palpable in the last two minutes, enriched by several stoppages in play. Finally, Tango Bourges Basket knew how to do well and won the match at the Palais des Sports du Prado (80-67). This leaves Perfumerías Avenida winless in this phase and in last position in Group E of the Euroleague.

The next meeting of the Salmantines in the continental tournament is scheduled for 2025, on January 8, against the Zabiny Brno in Wurzburg.

Technical sheet

Tango Bourges, 80 – Avenida, 67

80 – Tango Bourges Basket (18+18+23+21): Pauline Astier (22), Morgan Green (5), Artemis Spanou (4), Amy Okonkwo (25), Kariata Diaby (15) – five starters – Ana Maria Filip (-), Alix Duchet (-), Mathilde Selle (-), Clemence Collin (-), Chloe Rousseliere (-), Laetitia Guapo (2), Tima Pouye (7)
67 – Perfumerías Avenida (21+13+19+14): Silvia Dominguez (4), Arica Carter (21), Antonia Delaere (4), Laura Gil (15), Sika Koné (5) – five holders – Andrea Vilaró ( 3), Masa Jankovic (-), Mariella Fasoula (15), Mikiah Herbert-Harrigan (-), Paula Oliva (-).
Referees: Jelena Tomic (CRO), Veronika Obertova (ESQ), Jan Baloun (RCH).
Impacts: match corresponding to the second day of Group E of the Women’s Euroleague, in the second phase, played at the Palais des Sports du Prado in Bourges in front of around 2,500 spectators.