JL Bourg has taken a significant step towards winning their first Eurocup title by defeating Besiktas on their home court with a score of 72-60. Following the match, coach Frédéric Fauthoux expressed his satisfaction with his players’ performance but emphasized the need to finish the job in the next game.
“First and foremost, it’s a great victory because we know how difficult it is to win here. They had only lost one home game all season, so it’s a remarkable achievement. However, we need to win two games to lift the trophy, so it’s not over yet. Next week’s game will be different, so we will rest and review this match to prepare.”
This victory was achieved despite Bourg’s payroll being three times smaller than their Istanbul opponent’s. As the only Eurocup semi-finalist not from the Turkish league this season, Bourg’s success is attributed to its strong French talent pool and well-established recruitment strategies, according to their coach.
“We knew we didn’t have the same budget as many other teams, so we worked hard. We are fortunate to have a lot of talent in France. We focused on finding players who fit my style of play, which was very important. We understand how things work: if our players have good seasons, they might move to Turkey, for example, to play in the Euroleague or even the NBA. We worked to build the best possible team within our capabilities, and that’s what made the difference. The organization works very well, as does the staff, and we are very connected with my sports director, François Lamy. We know how to build a team. We’ve done good work over the last three seasons.”
In addition to his comments on the team’s success, the Bourg tactician revealed that he will be unable to coach the team during the 2027/28 season. This is because the French Federation has asked him to fully concentrate on his role as the national team coach in preparation for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Frédéric Fauthoux: “We are fortunate to have a lot of talent in France” after Bourg’s victory at Besiktas
JL Bourg’s coach, Frédéric Fauthoux, discussed his team’s significant Eurocup win over Besiktas, highlighting the team’s ability to leverage French talent and effective recruitment despite a smaller budget.
JL Bourg has taken a significant step towards winning their first Eurocup title by defeating Besiktas on their home court with a score of 72-60. Following the match, coach Frédéric Fauthoux expressed his satisfaction with his players’ performance but emphasized the need to finish the job in the next game.
“First and foremost, it’s a great victory because we know how difficult it is to win here. They had only lost one home game all season, so it’s a remarkable achievement. However, we need to win two games to lift the trophy, so it’s not over yet. Next week’s game will be different, so we will rest and review this match to prepare.”
This victory was achieved despite Bourg’s payroll being three times smaller than their Istanbul opponent’s. As the only Eurocup semi-finalist not from the Turkish league this season, Bourg’s success is attributed to its strong French talent pool and well-established recruitment strategies, according to their coach.
“We knew we didn’t have the same budget as many other teams, so we worked hard. We are fortunate to have a lot of talent in France. We focused on finding players who fit my style of play, which was very important. We understand how things work: if our players have good seasons, they might move to Turkey, for example, to play in the Euroleague or even the NBA. We worked to build the best possible team within our capabilities, and that’s what made the difference. The organization works very well, as does the staff, and we are very connected with my sports director, François Lamy. We know how to build a team. We’ve done good work over the last three seasons.”
In addition to his comments on the team’s success, the Bourg tactician revealed that he will be unable to coach the team during the 2027/28 season. This is because the French Federation has asked him to fully concentrate on his role as the national team coach in preparation for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
English Translation and Paraphrase:
Frédéric Fauthoux, the coach of JL Bourg, expressed his satisfaction after their significant Eurocup victory against Besiktas, stating, “It’s a great victory because we know how difficult it is to win here. They had only lost one home game all season.” He stressed that the job isn’t finished, as two wins are needed to secure the trophy, and that the next game will present a different challenge. Fauthoux highlighted that Bourg achieved this win despite having a significantly smaller budget than their opponents. He attributed their success to the abundance of talent in France and their effective recruitment strategy, emphasizing their ability to identify players that fit their game identity. He also acknowledged that successful players often move to higher-level leagues. Fauthoux credited the well-functioning organization and staff, including his sports director, for their consistent success in team building over the past three seasons. Additionally, he announced that he will step down from coaching the team in the 2027/28 season to focus entirely on his role as the national team coach for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
