Union 74 – Stade Toulouse 63
(MT : 36-28)
For the Union: Pharose (8), McBride (4), Chambre (cap) (13), Badiane (6), Leroux (8), Joseph (12), Wiscart Goetz (5), Queta (11), Gallas (-), Ateba (7).
For Stade Toulousain: Ona Embo (2), Jean (13), Kimbrough (2), Pomar (3), Mekdad (28), Biondo (-), Gottin (7), Butler (ça) (4), Imboua (4).
Union 75 – Vendée Challans 73
(MT : 36-40)
For the Union: Ateba (25), Labiche (-), Chambre (cap) (13), Badiane (16), Leroux (8), Joseph (-), Wiscart Goetz (-), Queta (10), Gallas (-), Horné -Raubet (4).
For Challans: Bengaber (cap) (4), Racine (7), Morel (13), Prugnières (8), Nikolic (10), Fofana (0), Jackson jr (26), Balu Kuasi (-), Bichard (-), Berchel (5).
So the Union won its two games in the Pascal-Thibert tournament, in Séméac, against the two teams they will meet in the championship.
The first meeting, Friday night, was controlled from start to finish by Stéphane Dao’s players, and the gap could have been bigger without the poor success of Samir Mekdad in Toulouse (5/7 on 3 points ). Trey McBride made his first steps in the Union jersey (16 minutes of play) and integrated well into the collective system and Mike Joseph showed that he can make a good pair of pivots with Tidiane Badiane. Niels Pharose was solid in his position, Marius Chambre and Tom Wiscart Goetz good hosts, Fabien Ateba and Mo Queta in their roles… The night, if not quiet, was at least well controlled by the U’boys.
Three were injured…
On Saturday, Toulouse, playing their third game in three days, paid for their efforts against Challans (73-39) and the five ex-Unionists (Morel, Mikolic, Prugnières, Bengaber and Racine ).
There remains the 3rd match on Sunday between Bigourdans and Vendéens.
In the warm room of Séméac where the public is crowded, as on Friday, which is a good surprise, the Union regained Pierre Hourné-Raubet, his youth “tanned” in the U18 3×3 basketball World Cup, new- or just returned in the evening in the evening in Hungary. But on the other hand, Neils Pharose (leg pain from crutches) and Trey McBride (sick) remained in civilian clothes, while Tom Wiscard Goetz still wore his white mask to protect his fracture. that nose. And unfortunately for him, Mike Joseph broke his ankle early in the game. A sprain, no doubt, the severity of which needs to be determined.
Young people at the meeting
Three absentees is a lot against a team like Challans who started their foot on the floor behind a Brent Jackson Jr. who was on fire, but also bad. Badiane (very much needed), Ateba always well placed and skillful (25 points), Chambre, Wiscard Goetz and Queta very active received the effective support of a strong and sharp Jules Leroux, a very concentrated and attentive Pierre Hourné-Raubet , and Keryan Gallas, a young player who came through the Union, who shut down Jackson Jr who had just made 4 consecutive victories.
Led but not abandoned, the Bigourdans gradually acquired to be decisive in the time of money. A fighting attitude that delighted the supporters whose motivation showed satisfaction.
Before resuming the championship, on Saturday September 14 at Quai de l’Adour against Quimper, Stéphane Dao and his team will travel to Lavaur on Saturday September 7 for the last preparation match against Stade Toulousein.