Sundaymail Editor
Online Reporter
VITALIS Chikoko and his French club Pau-Orthez finally remembered how to win when they eased past Fos-sur-Mer 74-63 at the Palais des Sports de Pau Arena over the weekend.
In a battle between the two relegation candidates, Chikoko made the difference, scoring a team-high 18 points, 13 rebounds and three assists.
The 31-year-old was one of five Pau-Orthez players to finish with double-digit scores, as Michael Stockton chipped in with 14 points, one rebound and three assists, while Markeith Cummings and Garret Sims had 12 points each.
Frenchman Gerald Ayayi finished with 11 points, three rebounds and one assist during the team’s push for victory.
Jamaica’s Shevon Thompson had to go at it alone, as he finished with a game-high 24 points and 13 rebounds for his club, Fos-sur-Mer.
The unfortunate thing about the victory is that it did very little to improve Pau-Orthez’s relegation woes, as the Pau-based club are 17th on the log standing after seven wins and 13 losses from their opening 20 matches.
Fos-sur-Mer anchor the 18-team France LNB log standings with five wins and 15 losses.
However, it’s not all gloom and doom for Chikoko and his club, as the three teams above them also have a similar 7-13 record.
Pau-Orthez play their next match on Monday against Paris.
Online Reporter