NEW: Chikoko gutted over missed chances

The Sunday Mail

Online Reporter

ZIMBABWE international basketball player Vitalis Chikoko has described his side’s 83-77 loss to France LNB Pro A log leaders AS Monaco as a hard pill to swallow.

Chikoko plays for Pau-Orthez.

The Zimbabwe basketball captain blew a chance to win the game for his 14th-placed team during the closing stages of the encounter, which was played at the Salle Gaston Médecin Arena on Sunday.

“Of all the losses of this season, last night’s (Sunday) loss against Monaco hit me so hard because of a number of reasons.
“Yes, they are currently top of the league, but we held them throughout the game.

“In the last 20 seconds of the game, and with a level score, l had a chance to win the game for us, but it couldn’t be,” said Chikoko on his Facebook page.

Chikoko finished the game with a team-high 14 points, eight rebounds and one assist.
He was tied on points with teammate Giovan Oniangue, who also chipped in with his own 14 points, one rebound and two assists.

On the other end, Monaco’s Mike James had a game-high 21 points, three rebounds and four assists, which proved to be the differenc between the two sides.
The defeat leaves Chikoko’s Pau-Orthez languishing in 14th place with six victories and 10 defeats from their opening 16 games of the French LNB Pro A 2022/23 season.