Gailītis-coached Strasbourg makes rough start to French league season
Strasbourg, coached by Latvia's national basketball team head coach Gailītis, opened the French league season with a loss to Dijon. The club will also compete in the FIBA Champions League this season.
The French basketball league season opener went poorly for Strasbourg, the club led by Gailītis, who also serves as head coach of Latvia's national team. The team failed to get off to a good start in either half, trailing 8:25 after the first quarter and then losing the third quarter 15:22. Strasbourg could not find a way to turn things around in the remaining periods, and the home side's victory was never seriously in doubt.
Top scorers
Strasbourg's leading scorer was American guard Jaylen Hands, who joined the club this season after moving from Murcia and finished with 23 points. It was not enough to avoid defeat, however. Dijon was led by Jamaican forward Shevon Thompson, who recorded a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Estonian player Kregor Hermet added a further 12 points for Dijon.
European competition ahead
Strasbourg faces a demanding season, as the club will also compete in the FIBA Champions League alongside its French league campaign. The draw placed Strasbourg in a group with Legia Warsaw, Galatasaray Istanbul and Cibona Zagreb, meaning a busy schedule of both domestic and international fixtures lies ahead for the players and coach Gailītis.
