Aurélien Canot, Media365, published on Thursday November 21, 2024 at 8:56 p.m.
For Frédéric Fauthoux's big debut on the bench, this Thursday in Nicosia, the French team, deprived of its NBA and Euroleague players, won painfully (75-59) thanks in particular to Yoan Makoundou and Axel Bouteille, both authors of 15 points.
Successful debut for Frédéric Fauthoux on the Blues bench. For the baptism of fire of Vincent Collet's successor, this Thursday in Nicosia against Cyprus as part of the Euro 2025 qualifications (3rd day), the French team, still undefeated (Editor's note: It also won against Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina during the international window at the end of February) suffered against the Cypriots. The Tricolores nevertheless ensured the essential by winning 75-59 at the cost of a one-sided last quarter and much better than the first three of the double Olympic vice-champions, deprived for this math as for the next one of its NBA players but also the Euroleague, namely eleven of… twelve silver medalists (only Andrew Albicy is part of this first gathering since the Olympics) of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games this summer. The Blues, now with the man in charge who nevertheless retained his position as coach of Bourg-en-Bresse in Betclic Elite like Collet in his time with Strasbourg, continue their success, with a third success in three matches which gives them allows us to maintain the lead of group E.
Makoundou put on the show
A third victory which took time to emerge (the Blues only led 37-31 at the break, thanks in particular to Adam Mokoka, author of 6 of the last 10 French points in this first half), the fault in particular of a significant waste on long shots (only 29.2% three-point success). Scrambled for three quarters, the French team then found more seriousness in the wake of Yoan Makoundou and Axel Bouteille, who finished as co-top scorers with 15 points, but also the nugget from Saint-Quentin Nolan Traoré, author of 10 points and particularly valuable at the end of the match while Makoundou had set the tempo from the start of the last period by slamming two huge dunks before cause an unsportsmanlike foul which allowed the Blues to take off. The two teams will meet again on Sunday in Poitiers. A new victory could allow the Olympic vice-champions to validate their ticket for the Euro.
