Vincent Collet (Boulogne-Levallois coach, after the 85-92 defeat in match 3 of the Betclic Elite finals): “Even more than Monday (during match 2), we were at the end of ourselves, we have everything given, we were close… But we certainly ran out of gas at the end of the game, with too few rotations. Despite everything, in the last quarter, there is no photo. We take 15-29. This is where things happened. We were still leading by 7 points at the start of the fourth quarter and we still controlled for a while. Then it was played on the inversion of the throw-in at 85-85, and the two very high class shots from Jordan Loyd which made the difference. And us, we’re cooked, burnt… But it took very little for us to reverse the trend. Afterwards, I’m not sure that we would have been really able to reproduce on Saturday (during a match 4), but I think we deserved to play this fourth match. And it would have been a very nice thing compared to what we saw as an atmosphere this evening, it was unique for French basketball and it would have been nice.
The season is beyond our expectations, but that doesn’t remove the bitter taste. I’m not even talking about the title because we knew the level of Monaco. We probably haven’t had a team like this in France for 20 years or more! Despite everything, I would have liked to do this match 4, but the season is a real success. The difference ? Bench depth. It’s not just the number of players, but those who are able to really contribute. We knew it, it’s part of the game, it’s the balance of power between the two teams. There was no debate. We hoped to do better, hang one, two… But we still knew that they were stronger than us. (…) They have entered the big leagues and they will try to settle there.
Victor Wembanyama in the NBA? There will certainly be a period of adaptation, you are never completely ready, and at 19, it is not possible, but he will dominate quickly. It’s normal that we are amazed and impressed by everything he does and which is already exceptional. But we have to measure that he will still progress a lot, especially physically, he will toughen up. He works a lot on a daily basis, he is very serious about strengthening. Its evolution will happen over time, you have to be patient, but I have a lot of hope and confidence. He is a winner, a competitor, he is of the race of champions. Many people in the United States wondered why he does not stop (the season), compared to the Draft, the certainty of being number 1. But Victor wanted to play, to win, to help his team to perform. It is not in these calculations, but in the freshness, and it is top.
Statements taken at a press conference
SEE ALSO – Kylian Mbappé’s best moments of the 2022-2023 season with Paris SG
