SYNTH ANATOMY uses affiliation & partner programs (big red buttons) to finance a part of the activity SynthFest France 2025/Superbooth 2025: Napkey Instruments NapKey Chord is a modern Autoharp Synthesizer and MIDI controller musician of the band Napkey and founder of Napkey Instruments he died of an apartment fire in Paris last week—my heartfelt condolences to his family and friends What will happen next with Napkey is unclear SynthFest France and Superbooth are very close in time it’s pretty standard to see the same companies at both shows One of these is the young French company Napkey Instruments In 2024,  they did a Kickstarter campaign for their new product Napkey Instruments showcased the final production unit of its NapKey Chord a modern interpretation of the classic Autoharp.  Napkey Chord is a portable (29.9 x 15.7 x 2.8 cm) hardware chord instrument inspired by the classic Autoharp It’s both a standalone Synthesizer and a MIDI controller.  giving you up to 108 chord combinations at your fingertips A chord inversion function gives more options Strum mode allows you to strum chords like on a guitar Chord mode sustains your notes while you can strum over them and Play mode triggers the chords without sustaining them The chords can be output in two ways: either via USB-C MIDI or TRS MIDI out you can use the built-in 20-voice polyphonic Synthesizer It’s very feature-minimal and gives you control over the waveform with seamless morphing from sine to sawtooth waves Napkey Instruments Napkey Chord is bus-powered and does not require an extra power supply when used as a MIDI controller on a computer or tablet it features a MIDI TRS Type A 3.5mm socket a USB-C socket (supporting MIDI and power) it’s a lovely and useful tool for quickly learning chords I would have expected a bit more from the features there’s hope for new features in the future Napkey Instruments’ NapKey Chord is available now for pre-order on Indiegogo until mid-June for 349€ (black) and 399€ (transparent ghost edition estimates it will be 379€ (black) and 479€ (ghost).  The Kickstarter pre-orders will start shipping at the beginning of June 2025 the official website will open with the option to order it directly from the developers More information here: Napkey Instruments  Hardware Synthesizer News Audio & MIDI News dual analog percussive module for hi-hats and snares new digital binaural polyphonic Synthesizer (prototype) Before Superbooth 2025, Larix Elektro unveiled three new modules: the Origami complex synth voice, the Time, and Canon modules. I share something in common with the young French company Larix Elektro. We were SynthFest France […] SynthFest France 2025: Cyma Forma ALT soundscape synth is almost finished; the developers showcased the production unit with major melodic feature update. Last year at Superbooth, the French company Cyma Forma premiered the ALT, a […] The 70s/80s homecomputer design really made my day Just saw the wonderful beautiful design and then read the shocking news Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id" "a888cb7579cff3fe5900c6ea77ae373e" );document.getElementById("edab391f36").setAttribute( "id" and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Pioneering engineered materials for more than 130 years Michelin is building a world-leading manufacturer of life-changing composites and experiences Michelin puts sustainability at the heart of all its decisions.  Drawing on its deep know-how in engineered materials and polymer composites Michelin is constantly innovating for a more sustainable world.  Access all our financial and non-financial figures Follow all the news about Michelin and its universe.  The decision had become unavoidable given the structural transformation of the Passenger car & Light truck and Truck tire markets and worsening competitiveness of Europe The Group is committed to assisting each affected employee by providing them personalized support The Group will also support the two impacted communities by creating at least as many jobs as were suppressed France is a core and strategic country for the Group Michelin today announced to the 1,254 employees of the CHOLET and VANNES plants its intention to close down production by early 2026 at the latest Both plants have been facing severe economic difficulties for several years Despite the teams’ remarkable engagement and the Group's efforts the viability of the two plants could not be preserved The two sites have been severely impacted by the structural transformation of the Passenger car & Light truck and Truck tire markets and worsening competitiveness of Europe notably due to inflation and rising energy prices This decision has been made as a last resort once all alternative solutions and scenarios have been analyzed and evaluated European markets for Passenger car & Light truck and Truck tires have undergone a profound transformation that has been detrimental to premium segments market share of entry-level Passenger car & Light truck and Truck tires has increased by 9 and 11 points taking away share from the corresponding premium segments which have fallen by 11 and 8 points (Source: Roland Berger: May 2023 for Truck tires and June 2024 for Passenger car & Light truck tires) This situation has led to structural production overcapacity at some of Michelin's Passenger car & Light truck and Truck tire plants in Europe Acutely aware of the consequences of its decision the Group is committing to mobilizing all available resources to individually support the 1,254 affected employees and the two communities impacted by these closures Michelin group will record a provision of approximately 330 million euros in its consolidated financial results for the year 2024.  Acutely aware of the consequences of this decision the Group's priority now is to provide individual support to each of the affected employees to help them build a new future for their career Michelin has made the deliberate decision to halt production at both plants through November 11 to give management and the unions time to propose collective and individual discussions with employees The objective is to set up an employee support system providing immediate assistance following the announcement As part of the employee representative bodies’ consultation and of union negotiations concerning support measures management has set the clear objective that each employee will have a personalized solution All affected employees will benefit from individual support to help them build a new future: Some would be eligible to early retirement Others could choose support for internal transfers for those who may choose to benefit from outplacement measures which should be the case for a large majority of employees: personalized support for employees will be provided by a specialized consultancy guaranteeing a reliable solution for returning to work; along with an in-depth analysis concerning employees' employability: continuing education and personalized training courses To create the best possible conditions to facilitate entry into a new external position: the possibility of ongoing support following the trial period with a new employer compensation for any pay gap of up to €400 gross per month for three years A joint committee to monitor the support plan will be negotiated to enable the unions and management to jointly ensure that the plan is running smoothly for each of the affected employees The approach also factors in the workforce’s strong competencies and the specificities of the CHOLET and VANNES plants with few employees nearing the end of their careers Michelin will mobilize all the expertise of Michelin Development its entity dedicated to generating businesses and jobs to support the revitalization of the CHOLET and VANNES labor markets Michelin Development will analyze opportunities for future manufacturing or service-based operations in collaboration with local officials and local economic development partners These opportunities will be analyzed in light of the local communities’ strategies for development Revitalization actions will aim to develop activities that bear future-oriented jobs for the benefit of the impacted communities mainly in manufacturing and manufacturing-based services Prior revitalization experiences demonstrate that actual job creation exceeds the number of jobs impacted by plant closures over four years 1,054 jobs were created for 706 suppressed jobs over four years more than 635 jobs were created for 613 suppressed jobs with a potential to reach 825 job creations given the revitalization agreement that was signed France is a core and strategic country for Michelin home to its global headquarters in Clermont-Ferrand and to its worldwide R&D center at the Ladoux Campus nearly 3,000 international researchers develop the next technological breakthroughs in composite materials With nearly 2,000 new hires and more than 2,000 apprenticeship and internship opportunities over the past three years Michelin is a leading player in terms of recruiting and apprenticeship Michelin has been actively engaged in modernizing its production sites to orient them on ultra-high value-added activities thus consolidating its production sites in the country Michelin is the only one to have maintained a strong industrial footprint in Western Europe The Michelin Group currently employs nearly 19,000 people in France including 9,000 in manufacturing in 15 production plants Even with the CHOLET and VANNES production close down France will remain the Group’s first industrial country in Europe Ultra-High Performance Passenger car and Mining tires) Accelerating the development of Michelin’s activities in connected solutions for fleet management through new businesses like Watèa by Michelin These non-tire activities are leveraging dynamic markets as varied as construction They represent a significant part of the Group’s revenues and growth over the coming years several first concrete implementations have already occurred: the Group and its partners opened a new gigafactory in Saint Fons the largest hydrogen fuel cell manufacturing site in Europe several hundred new jobs are being created In developing innovative inflatable solutions In producing new bio-sourced adhesive resins that respect both health and the environment Michelin has invested more than €2.6 billion in France of which €1.5 billion to modernize production sites Modernization and digitalization (revamped production lines An ambitious environmental policy (plants’ decarbonation Ongoing training and quality of work life (launch of the Talent Campus the Group has engaged with local stakeholders to launch one of the largest revitalization projects in Europe: Parc Cataroux on Michelin’s former Cataroux production site could lead to creating 1,000 new jobs by 2030 specifically in state-of-the-art training for manufacturing crafts and in future biomaterials Michelin’s ambition is to build strong manufacturing in France the company will continue the work toward it This is why Michelin offer the unions to work on creating the conditions to allow its sites and employees in France to better project toward the future The Group is convinced that with the “Michelin France Manufacturing 2030” project through collective and co-constructed work with the unions levers will emerge concerning competency development and career paths the sites’ competitiveness particularly for small ones defining a protection and support floor for employees when activities need to be shifted with a view to help prepare Michelin’s future and that of its employees in France Michelin’s European industrial footprint About Michelin's Cholet plantThe CHOLET plant mainly manufactures 17-inch and smaller Light truck tires These products represent 85% of its operations The plant also has a semi-finished products workshop (mainly rubber compounds) the Light truck segment has contracted significantly in Europe with a major impact on the CHOLET plant’s production volumes which fell from around 4.375 million units in 2019 to around 2.625 million in 2024 handling all of the steps in the manufacturing process Its production is used to manufacture Truck and Passenger car tires in Michelin customer sites located in Spain production volumes at the VANNES plant have been continuously falling notably due to changes in demand from the Group's Truck tire plants in Europe Output has fallen from 41,000 tonnes in 2019 to the 34,000 tonnes forecast for 2024 https://contentcenter.michelin.com:443/portal/shared-board/d5acb55e-8d1d-4797-9c0a-dc70a0ca799d The Slovakian rider outsprints Benjamin Thomas and Niklas Larsen for the victory in Cholet Lukáš Kubiš (Unibet Tietema Rockets) secured the victory in a rain-soaked edition of the Cholet Agglo Tour outsprinting his breakaway companions to take the win on the streets of Cholet.  Kubiš was part of a three-rider breakaway that held off the peloton by a whisker when he launched his sprint inside 300 metres to go to take the win ahead of Benjamin Thomas (Cofidis) and Niklas Larsen (BHS-PL Beton Bornholm) Cholet Agglo Tour offered the peloton a 205km race in and out of Cholet The route included ten categorised ascents across two distinct loops A six-rider early breakaway emerged that included Andrea Pietrobon (Team Polti-VisitMalta) Vojtěch Kmínek (Burgos Burpellet BH) Declan Irvine (Team Novo Nordisk) and Simon Bak (Bike Aid) Total Energies and Cofidis did the bulk of the work setting the pace at the front of the peloton with contributions from Equipo Kern Pharma Wagner Bazin WB and Unibet Tietema Rockets to bring the gap down to 1:45 before they reached the final circuits The breakaway was reduced to five and split apart again on the run-in to the circuits with Mintegi and Pietrobon pushing ahead and distancing Kmínek But as Mintegi and Pietrobon looked over their shoulder it was clear their time out front had come to and end with the peloton just 10 seconds behind and then making the catch with 40km to go Late-race attacks ensued that saw splits in the peloton and a new front three emerged that included Benjamin Thomas (Cofidis) Lukáš Kubiš (Unibet Tietema Rockets) and Niklas Larsen (BHS-PL Beton Bornholm) Six riders launched a chase; Jordan Labrosse (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) Matyáš Kopecký (Novo Nordisk) Mirco Maestri (Polti VisitMalta) and Emmanuel Morin (Van Rysel Roubaix) hovering around 15 seconds as the race hit the last 10km But a lack of organisation among the chase group meant that they were reeled back in by the field at the start of the last local circuit Kubiš and Larsen still had their 15 second gap in hand as they raced under the flamme rouge with Larsen launching a late move before being caught by his companions at 600 metres to go The three riders positioned themselves for the sprint to the line knowing that they had done enough to stay away Kubiš was the next to sprint at 300 metres to go and he had enough left in the tank to hold his sprint and take the victory ahead of the other two Results powered by FirstCycling Kirsten has a background in Kinesiology and Health Science She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling's biggest races She began her sports journalism career with Cyclingnews as a North American Correspondent in 2006 Kirsten became Women's Editor – overseeing the content strategy race coverage and growth of women's professional cycling – before becoming Deputy Editor in 2023 you will then be prompted to enter your display name ANDEAN TRANSFORMERS Bolivia’s Cholet Culture Is Caught Between the World’s Leading Economic Forces by Ellie Glass Symmetry and geometry, derivative of early Aymara patterning, find their way onto Monumental Cafeflor in El Alto. Photographed by Santos Winston Miranda Ramos for PIN–UP the current interest in Bolivia’s second city comes in no small part from the insurgence of a new architecture Having read about Freddy Mamani prior to a recent trip to Bolivia I kept my eyes peeled from the moment I arrived in El Alto eager to spot one of the architect’s creations the Neo-Andean exteriors I saw mixed in among the adobe-brick structures were imitations that nearly outnumbered the original Mamani homes Mixed-use buildings with brightly lacquered façades of shiny metal and glass Megatron Eventos, designed for the series’ main antagonist, characteristically dwarfs the neighboring structures. Photographed by Santos Winston Miranda Ramos for PIN–UP An Iron Man-inspired façade. Photographed by Santos Winston Miranda Ramos for PIN–UP Eventos Transformers is labeled as a gay night club on Google Maps. Photographed by Santos Winston Miranda Ramos for PIN–UP Outlined in LED light strips and rendered in metallic panels these spaceship-like pastiches first descended upon El Alto during the mid-2010s the original architect behind Neo-Andean design brought the style to the world stage with his globally-renowned “cholets.” These structures named for a hybrid of the words “chalet” and “cholo,” glimmer amongst a tapestry of wildly interconnected streets in the bustling city of El Alto Mamani’s work has become the new face of Bolivian prosperity: a self-taught designer glistening buildings in futuristic vernacular A contemporary Latin cousin of the Bauhaus Neo-Andean design takes its cues from Aymara iconography with a focus on vibrant colors and intricate geometry they’re home to commercial spaces such as convenience stores you will usually find party halls or ballrooms in keeping with Mamani’s ideal of creating a home for cultural spaces are private homes for those who own the businesses and ballrooms below The other sides of these buildings tend to be made from exposed brick or cast concrete with massive openings where windows should be enterprising dwellers take advantage of economic incentives for new development (in Bolivia the government may not levy property taxes on unfinished homes) their futuristic grandiosity sits in stark contrast to their terracotta-tin-roof neighbors Sirpa explains how he makes them by hand from metal calling them “one hundred percent Bolivian.” These unconventional status symbols tell a deeper story about the country’s socioeconomic state. Beyond the Spanish colonial influence, a new paternalistic relationship has formed in recent decades between China and Bolivia, with the South American country even using yuan in trade as of 2023 in a move to buck American hegemony Most of the industrial materials required for these façades arrive from China Although they are meant to embody a purely Bolivian ethos Though no longer the primary benefactor of Bolivia the United States hasn’t lost its cultural influence Photographed by Santos Winston Miranda Ramos for PIN–UP Though Santos Churata died in 2019, his Salon de Eventos Bumblebee was carried to completion in 2023 with the help of his daughter, Marjhely. Ramiro Sirpa built the Transformer affixed to the front. Photographed by Santos Winston Miranda Ramos for PIN–UP a key metal for batteries in products like electric vehicles The proliferation of franchise-inspired architecture in El Alto appears to track with the region’s economic expansion, which lasted through around 2019. The country experienced a commodity boom that peaked in 2014 and filled the pockets of a new Aymara bourgeoisie: a young and ambitious sect relocating to El Alto in droves. Donning traditional polleras and bowlers El Alto has experienced rapid growth over the past decade as rural Indigenous communities seek more lucrative opportunities for work even within the country’s largely informal economy since the country has found itself back in a financial crisis because of a dollar shortage China has inserted itself as an influential force in its economy Current Bolivian president Luis Arce is scrambling to resurrect the economy and catch up to world leaders in the production of lithium batteries Rather than exporting raw materials to China Arce sees a future in battery production for Bolivia itself The Chinese-backed infrastructure is too vital for getting the country on a path to modernity The new Aymara bourgeoisie are, in a way, practicing indigenous futurism through architecture. They are acknowledging the melting pot of influences from which they came — imperialist and otherwise — while designing and building for the Bolivia they want. In 2022, an event during Bolivia’s Futures Week conference took place at the Local de Eventos Iron Man to both plan for and celebrate the city’s trajectory from overlooked urban sprawl to “tecnopolis” by the year 2030 Like many other countries in Latin America Bolivia is in a constant state of reconciliation between its colonial past and the desire for a global future Even extolling symbols like Transformers or the Statue of Liberty which has always been a part of the Latin American sensibility These rhetorical Mamani-esque façades convey more than an appreciation for the media franchises they depict They lionize commerce and invite globalism Though the materials are imported from China — a now indispensable benefactor — their aesthetic is one chosen by the builders and owners themselves Their inhabitants represent the new vanguard of Bolivia’s “experimental economy,” a hybrid of socialism and capitalism that centers agency above all else the wealthy of El Alto are signaling a readiness to enter the high-tech ranks of the global superpowers Shooting up like a flare in the sky at 13,615 feet A massive sculpture of Sagittarius poses heroically on the roof of the Caballeros del Zodiaco, an event space and hostel, with rooms themed for each sign. Photographed by Santos Winston Miranda Ramos for PIN–UP Photography by Santos Winston Miranda Ramos for PIN–UP Tuesday World Subscribers only In Zurich the leaf blower war or the anti-'woke' backlash World Subscribers only Germany's Friedrich Merz is embracing pragmatism World Subscribers only Trump-Carney meeting: Canada seeks reconciliation World Subscribers only Friedrich Merz bets on two private sector converts to revive the German economy and reform the state World Subscribers only Founder of Sant'Egidio community fears next pope could undo Francis's legacy Opinion Subscribers only 'Russian gas and Europe is an old story that ended badly Economy Subscribers only Europe's steel industry flattened by crisis World Subscribers only How European countries plan to fund defense efforts France Subscribers only Macron announces citizens' convention on school schedules France Subscribers only 21 charged over French prison attacks as investigation narrows in on drug traffickers France Subscribers only French mosque stabber was driven by 'morbid fascination,' prosecutor says France Subscribers only At the trial of Kim Kardashian's robbers Videos World expos: From Paris 1855 to Osaka 2025 Videos How the Trump administration is attacking scientific research in the US Videos Tesla cars set on fire in Las Vegas as calls to boycott Musk's company grow worldwide Videos Can France's nuclear deterrent protect Europe Opinion Subscribers only 'The American dream is dying' Opinion Subscribers only John Bolton: 'The term chaos is commonly used to describe the top of the Defense Department' Opinion Subscribers only 'It is pointless to imagine a significant wave of American academics leaving' Magazine Subscribers only Tracking down the pianos taken from French Jews during the Nazi Occupation Magazine Subscribers only Eve Rodsky the American helping couples balance the mental load Magazine Subscribers only Desecration or more glory Joan Didion's private diaries are revealed Magazine Subscribers only For Jewish cartoonist Joann Sfar 2025."> Pixels Subscribers only Golden Owl solution is revealed but leaves players of 31-year hunt disappointed Pixels Subscribers only Secrets of decades-long Golden Owl treasure hunt to be revealed Lifestyle Inside Chanel's French leather workshops Culture Subscribers only The marvelous bronzes of Angkor on display at the Musée Guimet in Paris The tyremaker announced plans to close factories in Cholet and Vannes which together employ more than 1,250 people A photo shows burning tires during a workers' rally at the Michelin plant in Cholet JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER / AFP Michelin factory workers burnt tires in western France on Tuesday and vowed to stage a strike after the tire company said it would close two plants by early 2026 over collapsing sales Michelin said the decision to close down the plants in Cholet and Vannes in western France In another sign of struggles in the European auto industry German parts maker Schäffler announced that it would cut 4,700 jobs in Europe European car sales have fallen at home and in the key market of China as demand for electric vehicles has fallen and competition from Chinese manufacturers has grown which employs almost 19,000 people in France said the plant closure had become "unavoidable" due to competition from Asian tire makers as well as the "worsening competitiveness of Europe," notably due to inflation and rising energy prices Employees at the Cholet plant voted in favor of staging a strike Thick black smoke rose into the air as workers at the Cholet production site set tires on fire during a protest in front of the plant Around 200 workers blocked traffic at a crossroads leading to the site or they pay us until we retire," CGT secretary David Goubault shouted Michelin had earlier said it planned to halt production at the two sites until November 13 "to give management and the unions time to propose collective and individual discussions with employees." denounced "the rogue version of capitalism." "For us calling the announcement "brutal" as Michelin has been in Cholet for five decades Employees also burnt tires and pallets in front of the Vannes plant which was built in the early 1960s and employs around 300 people said the workers greeted the announcement with silence said: "It's a black day for Vannes and an earthquake for the region." Michelin vowed to support the two regions by creating "as many jobs as those eliminated." The company said it would support its employees including with job offers in other companies or within the group "It is the collapse in business that has led to this situation and I want to say to all these employees that we will not leave anyone by the wayside," Michelin CEO Florent Menegaux told Agence France-Presse (AFP) in an interview The Cholet plant mainly manufactures light truck tires – a segment that "has seen a significant decline" in Europe in recent years The Vannes site mainly produces metal reinforcements such as cables which are then used to manufacture car tires in countries including Spain and Italy In recent years production volumes have been declining at the plant due to changing demand from truck tire plants in Europe The group is going through a difficult year with a slowdown in the new vehicle market Michelin already closed its La-Roche-sur-Yon site in western France in 2020 and is preparing to close two plants in Germany by 2025 The company said that in La Roche-sur-Yon more than 635 jobs had been created Schäffler said its cuts were in response to "the challenging market environment the increasing intensity of global competition and ongoing transformation processes affecting the automotive supply industry." which specializes in making bearings for the automotive industry currently has about 120,000 employees in 55 countries Lecture du Monde en cours sur un autre appareil Vous pouvez lire Le Monde sur un seul appareil à la fois Ce message s’affichera sur l’autre appareil Parce qu’une autre personne (ou vous) est en train de lire Le Monde avec ce compte sur un autre appareil Vous ne pouvez lire Le Monde que sur un seul appareil à la fois (ordinateur En cliquant sur « Continuer à lire ici » et en vous assurant que vous êtes la seule personne à consulter Le Monde avec ce compte Que se passera-t-il si vous continuez à lire ici Ce dernier restera connecté avec ce compte Vous pouvez vous connecter avec votre compte sur autant d’appareils que vous le souhaitez mais en les utilisant à des moments différents Nous vous conseillons de modifier votre mot de passe. 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MUNICH (Germany) - It's advantage to the French clubs in the FIBA Europe Cup Semi-Finals after contrasting wins on Wednesday night Cholet Basket needed a game-winning dunk in the final seconds to upset the home crowd of PAOK mateco while JDA Bourgogne Dijon established control over Bilbao Basket with a convincing 19-point victory The all-important second legs take place next Wednesday A two-handed dunk from Jamuni McNeace with 0.9 seconds left gave Cholet Basket an 89-88 road win over PAOK mateco in the first leg of their Semi-Finals matchup Gerald Ayayi led Cholet Basket with 26 points going a near-perfect 11-for-12 from the floor who agonizingly missed the turnaround on the final buzzer led PAOK with 20 points as they suffered their first defeat at home in this competition Without one of their leaders in Bastien Vautier Cholet already had their backs against the wall against a PAOK side unbeaten on their home floor the visitors played with tremendous confidence and flair at the start leading 47-40 at the half and shooting 53.2 percent from the field Cholet certainly had to withstand heavy pressure from PAOK who both had 14 points after three but kept their noses in front until an 8-2 start to the final 10 minutes lifted the hosts and sealed the win with less than a second left with TJ Campbell providing the sublime dime to McNeace JDA Bourgogne Dijon shut Bilbao Basket out in the second half; holding the Spaniards to just 22 points on their way to a comfortable 77-58 first-leg victory. Slovenian Gregor Hrovat paced Dijon with 18 points and 4 rebounds, supported by Axel Julien, who stuffed the stat sheet with 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists. Harald Fray amassed 12 points for Bilbao, which was let down by poor execution as the game wore on. They ended with a subpar 34.6 percent, way below their average of 48.5. Boasting the competition's meanest defense, Bilbao knew they had to stabilize Dijon's potent offensive threat, being that the French side is the only side left in the FIBA Europe Cup that averages over 90 points per game. The Spanish outfit's plan worked well in the opening quarter, forcing Dijon into tough shots and making unforced errors. Through solid execution at their end, Bilbao led 21-14 after one. However, as the second quarter progressed, Dijon got a second wind and bounced back to narrow the gap to just 36-34 at the break, having trailed by as many as nine points. The hosts stormed clear in the third period by holding Bilbao to just four points in the first seven minutes en route to leading 57-45. Then, Dijon's electrifying attacking prowess was evident as they dragged their lead to double-digits in a one-sided second half. This leaves Bilbao, who overturned a FIBA Europe Cup-record 19-point deficit last season, having to match its accomplishment again on its home floor next Wednesday. PAOK see off Cholet in OTReviewZoran Dragic hit some huge shots down the stretch in Bilbao's comebackThe FIBA Europe Cup Finals are set MUNICH (Germany) - This season's FIBA Europe Cup Finals will have a new name etched on the trophy after two astonishing Semi-Final second leg encounters Bilbao Basket overcame the odds again to become the first Spanish side to reach the Finals at the expense of JDA Bourgogne Dijon while Greek side PAOK mateco needed overtime to oust Cholet Basket in a remarkable contest The FIBA Europe Cup Finals commence on Wednesday April 16 with the return leg taking place on Wednesday PAOK mateco stunned Cholet Basket 90-88 after overtime and 178-177 on aggregate as missed free throws with 12 seconds left from Cleveland Melvin ultimately sent them packing Frank Bartley went 8-for-13 from three-point land for a game-high 29 points with Shavar Reynolds and Cedric Henderson Jr Cleveland Melvin and Gerald Ayayi had 17 for Cholet In front of a vocal home crowd at La Meilleraie PAOK muted the crowd within three minutes of the opening period with solid offensive execution They led by as many as 14 in the first half before Cholet roared back to narrow the gap to 43-40 at the break It wasn't long before Cholet established control and highlighted by Jamuni McNeace as the home side took back the lead they had lost in the first half A three-pointer from Bartley on the fourth-quarter buzzer tied the game on aggregate taking the contest to an extra five minutes PAOK took a one-point lead overall through a pair of shots at the stripe from Jakob Forrester Melvin had his chance to do the same with 12 ticks left for the hosts but was unable to do so in a breathless overtime period Bilbao Basket repeated history again; erasing a 19-point deficit late on to beat JDA Bourgogne Dijon 97-68 on the night and 155-145 on aggregate to snatch a spot in the FIBA Europe Cup Final. Just like they did against Legia Warszawa last season in the Quarter-Finals, Bilbao needed to overturn a big double-digit deficit and for long periods, it looked like the odds were firmly against them until a 41-16 ambush turned it in their favor. Zoran Dragic and Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman led Bilbao with 19 points in an unforgettable final ten minutes that will go down as one of the best, if not the best, comebacks in the competition's history. Markis McDuffie amassed 18 for Dijon. The hosts led from tip to the final buzzer, taking a double-digit lead in the early exchanges of the second quarter, but at the time could not wear down a stubborn Dijon defense that played smart basketball throughout. That intelligent play continued throughout the second half until the latter stages of the fourth quarter when Bilbao made a run. The Spaniards incredibly narrowed the aggregate scoreline to a single point with 2:14 remaining, thanks to a jumper from Thijs De Ridder. From there, Bilbao's momentum grew, and Dijon were mere spectators in a fourth-quarter show that ended with Bilbao securing their first FIBA Europe Cup Final. Cholet and Dijon complete last fourReviewBilbao secured their place in the Semi-Finals in dramatic fashion in BursaThe Semi-Finalists have now emerged MUNICH (Germany) - An incredible second leg of FIBA Europe Cup Quarter-Finals packed with drama saw the combatants whittled down just four sides Bilbao Basket needed a heroic buzzer-beater from Saudi Arabia international Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman to edge Tofas Bursa over the two legs Cholet Basket and JDA Bourgogne Dijon to advance PAOK flex muscles in early stages of the fourth to advance; Cholet put on first half masterclass to beat Zaragoza; Dijon hand MHP RIESEN a first home loss to see them through in style Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman's long three-pointer on the final buzzer punched Bilbao Basket's ticket to the Semi-Finals. Despite losing 102-93 to Tofas Bursa on the night the Spanish side prevailed 177-174 on aggregate in a dramatic conclusion in Bursa Alex Perez thought his three for the hosts with 13 seconds left would take the game to overtime Adbur-Rahkman drained a step-back triple as time expired to scenes of jubilation for Bilbao and heartbreak for the home side Adbur-Rahkman led Bilbao with 24 points and 6 assists as they reach their second straight Semi-Final PAOK mateco needed a strong fourth quarter to finally shake off Fribourg Olympic 82-76 on the night and 144-138 on aggregate in a physical and demanding Quarter-Final matchup that could have gone either way PAOK enjoyed the best of the second bout but couldn't shake off their Swiss counterparts the home side executed in the early stages of the final period highlighted by a triple from Dimitrios Katsivelis to give PAOK a 71-61 lead with 4:43 remaining as they distanced themselves from Fribourg and advanced to the last four Jakob Forrester had a double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds to guide the Greeks to victory Roberto Kovac and Eric Nottage both had 16 for Fribourg Cholet Basket outclassed Casademont Zaragoza 90-71 in their second leg encounter Having come into this game tied up at 83-83 from the first leg and Cholet exploded out the gates to lead 45-30 at the break Stefan Smith led the victors with a game-high 21 points After two losses in the Regular Season, JDA Bourgogne Dijon exacted the best possible revenge by hammering MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg 83-72 for a convincing margin over the two legs to advance to the Semi-Finals. From the third minute of the second quarter, Dijon never relinquished their lead on the night. However, as they took an 88-75 lead into the second leg, the visitors were rarely troubled despite a strong start from Ludwigsburg. Gregor Hrovat paced the winners with 16 points on 4-for-6 from three-point land. Yorman Polas led all scorers for the hosts with 21 points, but his efforts, on this night, were in vain. MUNICH (Germany) - The FIBA Europe Cup Semi-Finals are on the horizon as the stakes intensify for a place in the Finals and you can vote on who will advance to the Finals PAOK mateco looks to take another step closer to becoming the first-ever Greek winners when they face Cholet Basket who are looking to become the second French side to lift the trophy following Nanterre 92's success in 2017 Home comforts will be important in this tie Both PAOK and Cholet are spotless at 7-0 in the competition which makes an away win in this Semi-Final clash priceless Cholet's offense has been solid this season with an average of 89.2 points per game and conceding just 75.4 points with its defense allowing just 76.6 points Key matchup: Devonte Upson (PAOK mateco) vs Bastien Vautier (Cholet Basket) Stats don't lie: Home advantage will be crucial in this Semi-Final, and none more so than for PAOK, who haven't been consistent enough on the road in the FIBA Europe Cup. So, they will look to their home floor and incredibly vocal supporters for a big win in the first leg - where they have won all seven games with a winning margin of 11.4 points. But against a team the caliber of Cholet, the Greek side will aim to secure a win above their average; otherwise, the tie is still firmly in the balance, especially as their French counterparts boast a winning margin of 16 points at home and also have a 100 percent winning record. Bilbao Basket is back in the Semi-Finals in back-to-back seasons, and this time, they go up against a JDA Bourgogne Dijon side brimming with confidence after a huge Quarter-Final win over the fancied MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg. For Dijon, they will have nothing to lose against a Bilbao side, who have undoubtedly the strongest roster in the competition if you view it from a stats perspective, and have only conceded just 69.5 points this season if you include the Qualifiers. But the French side can counter that with its high-octane offense. The team currently ranks second in the FIBA Europe Cup in points per game, scoring 90.1 points at an impressive 52.6 percent overall. However, Bilbao's latest victim, Tofas Bursa, was the competition's leader in both fields. This tie pits the best offense against the best defense of the remaining sides. Can Dijon's free-flowing offense repeat what last season's winners, NINERS Chemnitz, did and eliminate Bilbao? Or can Bilbao advance and do what no other Spanish side has done: go on and win the FIBA Europe Cup? Key matchup: David Holston (JDA Bourgogne Dijon) vs Melwin Pantzar (Bilbao Basket) Stats don't lie: Out of the four teams, Bilbao is second in rebounding at 37.4 per contest, and they do a great job at limiting second-chance opportunities. Out of the four teams, who are last in rebounding? It's Dijon with just 32.7, so execution will be key if they are to topple the Spanish side. MUNICH (Germany) - The Semi-Finals lineup of the 2024-25 FIBA Europe Cup season is now complete, with Bilbao Basket, Cholet Basket, JDA Bourgogne Dijon and PAOK mateco all advancing on Wednesday. There was late drama in Türkiye as Tofas Bursa had wiped out a 12-point deficit from the first leg, only for Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman's three at the buzzer to send Bilbao through. Cholet and PAOK both defended home court after first leg draws with Casademont Zaragoza and Fribourg Olympic, respectively, while Dijon enjoyed a double over MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg. The ties are set to take place on March 26 and April 2, with the exact dates and times to be confirmed. ANTALYA (Turkiye) - The Basketball Champions League field will be set at the end of this week, as 24 teams fight for the last four tickets to the Regular Season. The Qualification Round includes four tournaments, held at the Gloria Sports Arena in Turkiye. There are six clubs in this tournament, with the same format as in the previous editions of the Basketball Champions League Qualifiers. Four teams will play the Quarter-Finals round, while two await in the Semis. In Tournament 3, Caledonia Gladiators from East Kilbride, Scotland and up against CSM CSU Oradea from Romania in the Quarter-Finals, with the winner getting a date with PAOK mateco in the Semis. In the other part of this bracket, Aliaga Petkimspor take on Heroes Den Bosch, to decide who takes on Cholet Basket in the Semi-Finals. CSM CSU Oradea played the very first BCL season ever, back in 2016-17, finishing the Regular Season with a 6-8 record and transferring to the FIBA Europe Cup as the sixth placed team in their group. PAOK mateco have been a regular in the Regular Season, amassing seven BCL appearances. Their best results were in the first three seasons, reaching the Round of 16 three times. Cholet Basket played the Regular Season in 2020-21 and 2023-24. Both of those seasons, their members were named the Best Young Player of the year, Tidjane Salaun picking up the honors last season, while Yoan Makoundou won it in 2020-21. Caledonia Gladiators had a good campaign in the British Basketball League a season ago, and Patrick Whelan was their most consistent player, averaging 14.9 points, 4.4 assists and 4.2 rebounds across 33 games, while knocking down 45.5 percent from beyond the arc. CSM CSU Oradea brought Brandon Brown back to Romania, where he had played for U-BT Cluj Napoca previously. Brown is an experienced point guard, and he averaged 14.7 points with 5.3 assists for Cluj in their 2021-22 BCL run, before reaching the Final Four with Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem a year later. Aliaga Petkimspor have plenty of familiar BCL names, but Breein Tyree is brought in to lead the team in scoring. He has two seasons of BCL experience, averaging 17.4 points for Oostende in 2022-23, and 16.1 points for Sassari last season. Heroes Den Bosch changed a lot of their squad from a season ago, and it will be interesting to see what Justin Kier can do in his first season abroad. He is 26, plays as a guard and once averaged 14.5 points with 6.5 rebounds with the George Mason Patriots in the NCAA. PAOK mateco picked up one of the top scorers of the Romanian League last season, bringing Cedric Henderson to Thessaloniki after his 15.6 points on 45.8 percent three-point shooting in CSM Constanta in 2023-24. Cholet Basket brought back a lot of their players from last season, so don't be surprised to see the backcourt tandem of TJ Campbell and Gerald Ayayi leading them to another successful run. MUNICH (Germany) - Five spots have now been taken to the FIBA Europe Cup Quarter-Finals with just the last three places to be decided on the final week There are two weeks left of the Second Round action with a host of clubs still in contention to join the quartet of Bilbao Basket MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg and PAOK mateco in advancing Here's how things stand ahead of Gameday 12: Casademont Zaragoza Tofas Bursa Maroussi Basketball Club FC Porto Casademont Zaragoza have already qualified for the Quarter-Finals; Tofas Bursa would qualify for the Quarter-Finals with a win OR with a loss if Maroussi beat Porto; They could also qualify with a loss if Porto beat Maroussi - in accordance to the Official Basketball Rules**; Maroussi BC have already been eliminated from contention to advance; FC Porto could qualify for the Quarter-Finals with a win IF Zaragoza beat Tofas - in accordance to the Official Basketball Rules** **In the case that Tofas and Porto finish in a tie for second place (3-3) the next criteria will be overall points difference as per the Official Basketball Rules Cholet Basket Bilbao Basket Banco di Sardegna Sassari ESSM Le Portel Cholet Basket have already qualified for the Quarter-Finals; Bilbao Basket have already qualified for the Quarter-Finals; Banco di Sardegna Sassari have already been eliminated from contention to advance; ESSM Le Portel have already been eliminated from contention to advance PAOK mateco JDA Bourgogne Dijon CSM CSU Oradea BC Kalev/Cramo PAOK mateco have already qualified for the Quarter-Finals; JDA Bourgogne Dijon would qualify for the Quarter-Finals with a win OR with a loss if Kalev/Cramo beat Oradea; CSM CSU Oradea would qualify for the Quarter-Finals with a win IF PAOK beat Dijon; BC Kalev/Cramo are already eliminated from contention to advance MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg Fribourg Olympic Spirou Basket Anwil Wloclawek MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg have already qualified for the Quarter-Finals; Fribourg Olympic would qualify for the Quarter-Finals with a win OR if they lose by 1-19 points and MHP Riesen beat Spirou; Spirou Basket would qualify for the Quarter-Finals with a win IF Anwil beat Fribourg; Anwil Wloclawek would qualify for the Quarter-Finals if they win by 20 points or more AND MHP Riesen beat Spirou. The Quarter-Finals matchups will be as follows: DISCLAIMER: The above analysis has been prepared solely for the purpose of improving the experience of fans. It is not to be understood as advice or as binding information on FIBA Europe Cup for competition purposes. MUNICH (Germany) - The 2024-25 FIBA Europe Cup season is down to its final eight teams as the Second Round of the competition concluded on Wednesday PAOK mateco and Tofas Bursa all advance to the Quarter-Finals - which will take place next month There is guaranteed to be a new champion crowned this season after 2023 winners Anwil Wloclawek failed to advance The Quarter-Finals matchups are as follows: Swiss side Fribourg will compete in the Quarter-Finals for the first time in their fourth season with Bilbao reaching the last four stage last season and Zaragoza now making it back-to-back Quarter-Final appearances Each round of the Play-Offs will be played across two legs with the winners of the group winners earning home advantage for the second leg in the Quarter-Finals The ties are scheduled to be played on March 5 and 12 with the exact dates and times to be confirmed establishing a 17-7 lead within the first six minutes thanks to effective offensive rebounding and accurate three-point shooting Captain Dimitris Katsivelis was instrumental contributing early with two three-pointers The first quarter concluded with PAOK leading 27-16 causing PAOK to commit turnovers and struggle from beyond the arc This defensive pressure allowed Cholet to narrow the gap ending the first half trailing by just three points at 43-40 Cholet carried their momentum into the third quarter capitalizing on PAOK’s offensive struggles to take the lead Despite a strong performance from Frank Bartley PAOK found themselves down 65-56 entering the final quarter PAOK responded in the fourth quarter with a defensive stand holding Cholet scoreless for a significant stretch and reclaiming the lead at 70-66 The teams exchanged leads in the closing minutes with Cholet ahead 74-72 as the game neared its end tying the game at 80-80 and forcing overtime PAOK’s fans eagerly anticipate the final hopeful that their team can clinch the European title after nearly three decades You must be logged in to post a comment. Bilbao build double-digit leads; two games end in a drawReviewJDA Bourgogne Dijon avenged two defeats to the same oppositionAll four Quarter-Final ties are nicely balanced heading into next week's second legs MUNICH (Germany) - It was a dramatic opening of the FIBA Europe Cup Quarter-Finals with two games finishing in draws on Wednesday evening Fribourg Olympic and PAOK mateco played out a stalemate in a demanding contest where neither team had a lead bigger than five points while Casademont Zaragoza and Cholet Basket could also not be separated there were good wins for Bilbao Basket over Tofas Bursa and JDA Bourgogne Dijon against MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg Fribourg and PAOK knotted up going into the second leg in Greece; Fribourg Olympic and PAOK mateco could not be separated at 62-62 in an intense first leg where neither combatants could break away throughout After a cagey first half that saw both sides stumble to a combined 16-for-60 from the field neither team could shake off the other in a very tense third quarter In a contest that was so typical of how the previous three played out where Eric Nottage scored inside with 3.8 seconds left only for Shavar Reynolds to tie the contest again from the line Nottage led Fribourg with 15 points and 7 assists with Reynolds leading all scorers for PAOK with 20 Bilbao Basket started hot and had enough in them to defend their home court and secure an 84-72 win over Tofas Bursa in their opening Quarter-Final tie The Spanish side came out the gate with venom as they enjoyed a 17-point lead early doors before settling for a 47-35 half-time lead Tofas responded to narrow the gap to single figures in the third quarter But Bilbao's firepower down the stretch was too much Casademont Zaragoza and Cholet Basket will head to France as you were as they ended their first leg level at 83-83 With neither team enjoying a lead bigger than seven points Trae Bell-Haynes saved Zaragoza from a first leg deficit from the foul line with four seconds left The Canadian finished with 20 points for the hosts with T.J Campbell and Aaron Wheeler both posting 12 for Cholet JDA Bourgogne Dijon secured a solid 88-75 win over MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg - bagging their first win against the German side at the third attempt in this competition this season. In a game that saw 11 lead changes, Dijon took the lead for good with 3:58 remaining in the third quarter and made it a double-digit game near the midway point of the final ten. Despite the victory, though, they will need to continue this momentum in Ludwigsburg - a venue the German outfit hasn't lost at this season in the FIBA Europe Cup. Axel Julien led Dijon with 23 points and 7 assists, while Ezra Manjon had a game-high 27 points in defeat. MUNICH (Germany) - There are still three weeks remaining of the Second Round action in FIBA Europe Cup but some teams can already book their spots in the Quarter-Finals Bilbao Basket - still undefeated in the competition this season - along with MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg and PAOK mateco all sit at the top of their respective groups with 3-0 records The top two sides in each of the four groups will advance to form the last eight and remain in the hunt to be crowned 2024-25 champions Here's a closer look at the state of play: Casademont Zaragoza Casademont Zaragoza cannot qualify for the Quarter-Finals on Gameday 10; Tofas Bursa cannot qualify for the Quarter-Finals on Gameday 10; Maroussi BC cannot qualify for the Quarter-Finals on Gameday 10; FC Porto cannot qualify for the Quarter-Finals on Gameday 10; They would be eliminated from contention to advance with a loss Bilbao Basket Cholet Basket Bilbao Basket would qualify for the Quarter-Finals with a win IF Cholet beat Le Portel; Cholet Basket would qualify for the Quarter-Finals with a win IF Bilbao beat Sassari; ESSM Le Portel cannot qualify for the Quarter-Finals on Gameday 10; They would be eliminated from contention to advance with a loss IF Bilbao beat Sassari; Banco di Sardegna Sassari cannot qualify for the Quarter-Finals on Gameday 10; They would be eliminated from contention to advance with a loss IF Cholet beat Le Portel PAOK mateco PAOK mateco would qualify for the Quarter-Finals with a win; CSM CSU Oradea cannot qualify for the Quarter-Finals on Gameday 10 BC Kalev/Cramo cannot qualify for the Quarter-Finals on Gameday 10; JDA Bourgogne Dijon cannot qualify for the Quarter-Finals on Gameday 10 MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg would qualify for the Quarter-Finals with a win; Fribourg Olympic cannot qualify for the Quarter-Finals on Gameday 10 Anwil Wloclawek cannot qualify for the Quarter-Finals on Gameday 10; Spirou Basket cannot qualify for the Quarter-Finals on Gameday 10 DISCLAIMER: The above analysis has been prepared solely for the purpose of improving the experience of fans It is not to be understood as advice or as binding information on FIBA Europe Cup for competition purposes In precisely 3 weeks, the NBA world turns its attention to the upcoming class of talent at the 2024 NBA Draft. Wow time is flying ahead of a key date in the league’s calendar and a notable one the Utah Jazz With loads of prospects (and up to 3 more rookies incoming this summer) the team is desperate to find gems that can be a staple of their rotation into the next era of competitive Jazz basketball Perhaps one “gem-to-be” is French prospect Tidjane Salaun Salaun is projected by an array of industry boards and mocks for an average draft position of 11 Yahoo Sports ranks him highest at 5 while Global Scouting is among those ranking him lowest at 25 Let’s get a comprehensive feel for the international prospect garnering a lot of attention as we ramp up for the 2024 NBA Draft Tidjane Salaun (tee-jon sal-ohn) is an 18 year old French prospect currently with Cholet Basket of the top pro league in France He stands at a reported 6’ 9” and possesses a 7’ 1” wingspan Salaun’s physical profile and game suggest he’s best suited as a forward on both ends of the floor Tidjane played 33 games for Cholet this season and 1.5 tov on 51% true shooting in 22.7 minutes During the U18 European Championship as part of the French National team and 1.9 tov on 63% true shooting in 25.0 minutes across 7 games There’s some interesting implications from these numbers but they don’t immediately jump off the page It’s worth remember the limitations of traditional stat lines for prospects: 1) the measures aren’t volume adjusted He comes from a family involved with athletics currently plays basketball professionally in EuroLeague Women and for the French women’s national team Per Eurospects Salaun ascended through the youth basketball programs of Saint-Charles Charenton and was recruited to play professionally for Cholet His coaches and trainers rave about his lofty aspirations that are grounded in dedicated training He played just 17 unremarkable minutes across 3 games in the 2022-23 season for Cholet before competing in Basketball Without Borders and the Trophy of the Future tournament in France Tidjane saw consistent playing time but not always a consistent role across his U18 and professional experiences he demonstrated some fairly consistent process balanced going to the line and shooting from 3 and was a impact player in off-ball defense Let’s dig into some of his specific strengths Probably the biggest thing that jumps off the tape for me is how often Tidjane is on the perimeter...and how far away from the basket he operates and spaces you can find him up to 5 feet or so beyond the 3P line He’s got the confidence and strength to take the shots and he does not just in his mentality but in how he carries himself Some interviews later on will demonstrate this even more as I doubt he’d be setting records for max vertical but he demonstrated an ability to absorb contact very well and he routinely imposes his will at the rim These tools show up really well when he plays off-ball defense He’s quite adept at recovery and weakside rotation But in a team construct with some development Prospects such as Tidjane tend to have tools as strengths and skills as weaknesses much of the skills fall in the unknown category The areas of true weakness mostly center around him operating with the ball in hand for extended periods It’s too slow and upright for him to be effective beyond 2-3 dribbles You won’t find him navigating a 1-on-1 matchup or expertly probing the congested paint I don’t project enough development happening on that front to be an off-the-dribble weapon He’s also not taking very many unassisted shots That’s a weakness for projecting him as a go-to scorer but most the film features his made shots coming in assisted situations when an advantage is already created and he’s merely building thereon He’s more than adept at a couple dribbles to set up a shot The lion’s share of his playmaking comes in these same situations and he does fine Many posit his shooting as a weakness but I think there’s some intangible items that suggest a more optimistic assessment he only shot a combined 33% from deep and 73% from the line between U18’s and his last season with Cholet is he took over 50% his attempts from 3 while also getting to the line 30% of the time Only 10 forwards in all of college basketball did that on his shot volume last year The distance and variety of 3s he’s getting have me thinking he will approach league average And what we’ve often seen in the league is 3PAs are more correlated to the concept of “gravity” (how much the defense cares about you) than pure 3P% alone For as coordinated and powerful he is at his size Tidjane doesn’t rebound as much as you’d think 5.3 rebounds per 30 mins or a 10% rebound rate with Cholet and 11% with the France U18 team Rebounding is typically a skill that translates to the NBA; if we check the top forwards in rebounding from this past NBA season they generally had a rebound rate in the mid-teens in college A “glass half full” perspective would argue he operates so heavily on the perimeter he’s not in position for competitive rebounding one of his comps (see the last section) had a worse rebound rate in college and today is slightly above average among forwards who attempt a lot of 3’s He’s got a real presence and confidence to him You see it on the court but it really jumps out at you in interviews Take a look at some specials and early career interviews of Salaun where he discusses his upbringing Tidjane Salaun is tied (Nikola Topic shares the same birthday) for the youngest player projected to be drafted in this year’s class and possesses an array of tools and tantalizing skill potential well-suited for the NBA game Projecting how his game will translate to the NBA has some interesting implications perhaps a more offensively leaning version of Derrick Jones Jr Jonathan Kuminga as a comp is pretty interesting to me the swing skill that will largely determine his progress in the league are shooting and being an effective weapon with the ball barreling towards the rim balancing those initiatives is probably his best avenue for success it’s not “if” you would or should draft them The idea is to intersect risk and reward to generate the highest value proposition Given the Jazz have 3 picks and multiple avenues for changing draft position Salaun will not be available late in the draft. In fact, he’s continually getting buzz into the early lottery It’s quite possible the Jazz haven’t even the option to draft him at #10 The Houston Rockets at #3 have signaled an interest to move back though Houston’s asking price almost surely begins with Lauri Markkanen at which point negotiations end on Utah’s side Should Salaun be available at #10 for the Jazz there’s but few scenarios where Tidjane isn’t a serious option for Utah Where would you take Tidjane Salaun in the upcoming 2024 NBA Draft PAOK enjoy road successReviewBilbao are now 7-0 in FIBA Europe Cup action this seasonOnly three teams remain unbeaten as the Second Round begins MUNICH (Germany) - The Second Round of the FIBA Europe Cup produced a rollercoaster of emotions as all 16 teams were in action this week Tofas Bursa and Cholet Basket are the three sides still unbeaten in the competition this season but the slates have been wiped clean in the race to the Play-Offs Bilbao Basket beat Sassari in thrilling battle of unbeaten teams; PAOK inflict first home loss on BC Kalev/Cramo; Campbell sinks game-winner for Cholet on Tuesday Bilbao Basket showcased their prowess by toppling Banco di Sardegna Sassari 91-89 in a battle between two unbeaten sides from the Regular Season That message was sent loud and clear in the first half as the Spanish side executed their offence to perfection Harald Frey led six Bilbao players in double figures with 16 points on 4-of-7 shooting as they shot 57 percent as a team - hitting 11 three-pointers PAOK mateco handed BC Kalev/Cramo its first loss at home this season with a 79-71 win in Tallinn eventually taking the lead for good with 5:12 left in the fourth Devonte Upson added 15 in the Group M victory Leemet Bockler led the Estonian charge with 12 points and 4 steals Meanwhile, MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg needed free throws towards the end to put away Anwil Wloclawek 86-82 as the German side survived a second quarter ambush to regroup and seal the win - Ezra Manjon-Van Ewyk standing out with a game-high 28 points Tofas Bursa overcame a torrid first quarter to beat Maroussi BC 96-83 in their Group K encounter stretching their unbeaten run in the competition to seven games Trailing 16-5 midway through the opening period the hosts recovered to lead 21-20 after the first with their lead peaking at 18 en route to a routine win Alex Perez paced the victors with 20 points 8 rebounds and 7 assists in a solid all-around display Elsewhere, CSM CSU Oradea got off to winning ways in Group M with a comfortable 98-77 victory over JDA Bourgogne Dijon the Romanian side led 34-17 after 10 minutes and had Kris Richard lead the way with a team-high 22 points while Donatas Tarolis had 13 points and 10 assists There was also a big win for Fribourg Olympic as they defeated Spirou Basket 92-62 with five players in double figures T.J. Campbell and Mohamed Diawara were the heroes as Cholet Basket came out with an 85-82 win over ESSM Le Portel in a breathtaking all-French encounter in Group L With the game tied at 82-82 in the final 15 seconds Campbell stepped up to drain a three-pointer from the top with 1.7 seconds left to send the home crowd into a frenzy That doubled when Diawara got the vital block on Deandre Gholston's attempt which could have taken the tie to an extra five minutes which included four triples and 7 assists for Cholet Basket Despite owning a lead as big as 16 points in the latter stages of the third Cholet found themselves pegged back by a determined Le Portel side who narrowed the deficit to as little as 66-65 after three periods A back-and-forth final 10 saw Le Portel enjoy a slender advantage in the final two minutes but Cholet had enough left in the tank down the stretch Earlier, Casademont Zaragoza broke the deadlock in the third quarter to come away with an 86-70 victory over FC Porto in the opening game of Group K. The Spanish side outscored their opponents 21-13 to take a double-digit cushion into the final quarter, and they never looked back. Jilson Bango had 22 points - going 8-of-9 from the field - along with 8 rebounds to lead Zaragoza, canceling out Philip Fayne's 22 points and 9 rebounds for their Portuguese counterparts. Stay up to date with all of the FIBA Europe Cup action! More bad news for European tyre making has arrived in the form of Michelin’s decision to close its Cholet and Vannes plants in France by early 2026 at the latest The company announced this planned measure to the two facilities’ 1,254 employees this morning When added to the approximately 1,500 employees at three locations in Germany where operations will cease by the end of 2025 Michelin has announced some 2,750 job cuts within Europe in the past year Tyrepress and Tyres & Accessories subscribers can log in below to read the full article If you are not yet a Tyrepress or Tyres & Accessories subscriber Subscribe now If you would like the latest news from the Chinese tyre industry in Chinese, visit our partner site TyrepressChina.com FREDDY MAMANI’S CHOLET CULTURE by Thom Bettridge, Jonathan Castro Left: Freddy Mamani Silvestre Seeing the work of the Bolivian architect Freddy Mamani Silvestre for the first time is like being radicalized by a mirage The photographs that have been circulating of his cholets — a remix of the words “chalet” and “cholo” (the latter an often-pejorative term meaning “mixed-race”) — are intensely maximal to the point of seeming unreal The alien-ness of Mamani’s buildings isn’t only a product of their color or patterning but also stems from the notion that something so radically outside the palette of the global standard of taste could be built on such a massive scale his cholets reveal the typical design language of late capitalism to be a desert of the imagination populated by warmed-over interpretations of sleep-walking Modernism buttressed by athleisurely notions of the good life 46-year-old architect and former bricklayer has been erecting cholets by the dozen with over 60 of them now dotting the skyline of El Alto a swelling Andean metropolis located 13,000 feet above sea level immediately adjacent to Bolivia’s capital The majority of Mamani’s cholets function like self-contained chimneys for capital built in the service of El Alto’s newly emerging Aymara bourgeoisie Typically they comprise commercial space on the ground floor a combination intended to ensure their financial sustainability But it’s not the all-in-oneness of the cholet that makes it so unusual rather Mamani’s employment of symbolism and color instead abstraction as his primary architectural language — a code that derives from a convergence of the indigenous iconography of the Aymara people and the fantastical lexicon of science fiction On reaching out for comment to Mamani, I received only the following WhatsApp reply: “Hola Thom, estoy muy alejado de la ciudad y no tengo una buena línea” (“Hi Thom, I’m very far from the city and don’t have good service”). So in lieu of an oral account, the following portfolio, exclusive to PIN–UP, is a visual exploration of the symbolic language of Freddy Mamani dissected through the graphic designs of Peruvian-born Jonathan Castro a cholo celebration of mixing and diversity by two Andean maximalists who are pushing forward into new aesthetic terrains Willka Uta (House of the Rising Sun) (2018) “The thing you have to understand about a symbol is that it has a soul behind it,” says Jonathan Castro a Peruvian artist and graphic designer living in Rotterdam melds the indigenous iconography of the Andes with futuristic textures something that is as minimal as an Apple Store looks like marketing and feels like a lie,” Castro continues Artwork by Jonathan Castro Alejos Photography by Peter Granser Originally published in PIN–UP 25 there’s a sign of wealth so large it can’t fit inside a closet or a garage: A building by Freddy Mamani it functioned primarily as a service town to the adjacent La Paz La Paz can be brutal on the senses: low oxygen levels and low air pressure and blazing UV exposure during the day with possible freezing temperatures at night The city lies in a canyon and is structured with the wealthiest neighborhoods lower down People move between El Alto and La Paz via cable car (teleferico).Image: Melissa LyttleEnter El Alto: a city at 4,000 meters above sea level even higher up on the altiplano than La Paz it’s the second largest city in the country with a population of just under one million one of the two largest indigenous groups in Bolivia Three-quarters of El Alto residents identified as Aymara in 2001 an expression of cultural pride after centuries of oppression and racism futuristic façades to the streets—and help shape the aesthetic identity of this rapidly growing city Mamani has built more than 100 buildings in this style: A bona fide architectural trend is flourishing Mamani’s buildings are nicknamed “cholets,” a portmanteau made of the high-class “chalets” (as in Swiss cottages with eaves) and the derogatory “cholo” (as in Inspired by the brightly colored aguayo cloth used by indigenous women in the Andes with geometric panels and windows like mirrors with swirling ceiling fixtures that appear as if riveted by brass studs a spider web lined with neon lights spreads across the ceiling rows of green diamond shapes run wall to wall See on QZ Objects But cholets are more than just outlandish buildings with zany colors; they come with the promise of financial returns the ground floor contains stalls that can be rented out to businesses; the second and third floors house a party venue; and on the upper floors are residential apartments of course it represents the colors of our culture but mainly it’s the result of hard work,” says Joaquin Quispe Condori a restaurateur who co-owns a cholet with a salon called El Crucero del Sur “I believe that we are really hard workers The inside of the cholets swirl with color.Image: Melissa LyttleFor Condori who has been working since he was 12 years old something to show for decades of routinely long work days Aymara have earned a reputation as industrious and enterprising “We work Monday to Monday,” says Rene Callisaya Apaza the owner of a cholet whose salon is called Estrella d’Oro everybody’s working,” says Fany Elia Tinini de Fosarico who co-owns a cholet with the salon Fanelia She describes the scene: She sells presents on the ground level Cholets are expensive to construct—between $200,000 and $500,000–but not inconceivable compared to standards in the adjacent capital city and the goal for owners is to rent out space to make back the cost and eventually turn a profit A cholet is a reward for hard work—that also creates more work Freddy Mamani Silvestre moved with his family to El Alto at the age of 13 and began helping out with construction In college he studied civil engineering and didn’t formally study architecture until after his cholets took off Mamani finished the first of the buildings that would earn this nickname in 2005 That same year a monumental shift happened in the country: Bolivia elected its first indigenous president It’s estimated that somewhere between 40 and 60% of Bolivians today identify as being of indigenous ancestry voting restrictions kept some hundreds of thousands of illiterate indigenous people from voting Racism by white Bolivians no doubt persists today but the election of Evo Morales ushered in a massive and symbolic change for the country Freddy Mamani’s facades are hard to miss in El Alto.Image: Melissa Lyttle and Steve Johnson the country voted for a new constitution that recognized Bolivia as a plurinational country made up of 36 groups and their languages Morales even set up a decolonization vice ministry in his government whose aim is to strip the country of its racist roots and bring new awareness to its indigenous traditions “At that moment when Evo Morales became president I remember that moment in El Alto; it was almost a revolution,” says Mamani He decided then to persist with an architecture just for El Alto and social assertion through architecture,” he says “The idea is to put color in El Alto,” he adds This political empowerment has emboldened elite Aymara who have been gathering wealth for decades as part of Bolivia’s robust informal economy “These [buildings] are an expression of de-colonization because they’re a way to recover and project our culture,” says Félix Cárdenas Aguilar to do before was to kill all expressions of our culture: their language is a language and we just have a dialect; their religion is a real religion and we just have some beliefs some superstitions; what they have is art and what we do are just some handmade things; Chopin and Mozart are music “This architecture we’re talking about is an answer to centuries of mistreatment,” says Guillermo Delgado-P professor of anthropology at UC Santa Cruz But that condescension toward indigenous aesthetics exists still even with Mamani’s buildings: “That kind of architecture is not that important in the history of architecture,” says Gaston Gallardo the former head of the architecture department at Universidad Mayor San Andreas of La Paz Though Gallardo says he personally respects Mamani and his buildings he acknowledges that the architecture establishment doesn’t accept them (That’s why Mamani resisted the name “cholet” at first referring to them as “cakes,” and Mamani wanted the buildings to evoke respect But today the name has gotten so big that it’s become unavoidable Mamani drew inspiration from the colorful aguayo cloth indigenous women use in the Andes.Image: Melissa LyttleAnd from the indigenous population The El Alto buildings have been commissioned exclusively by Aymara families and the salons’ association with ostentatious and glammed up Aymara parties and ways of dressing could flatten expressions from the rest of Bolivia’s many indigenous groups from La Paz’s National Museum of Ethnography and Folklore Or they risk becoming a superficial spectacle for curious rich kids from La Paz or from outside Bolivia; there’s been at least one electronic music rave thrown in a cholet and they’re popular spaces for shooting music videos the buildings say something powerful for Aymara with means: We’re here an architectural fad isn’t a common phenomenon; buildings are a big investment and hard to throw away when the next big thing comes along But cholets are different: They represent empowerment through something functional and aesthetic a physical manifestation of the will of one group shooting through an entire city and sprouting up all around Though indigenous rural exodus has been happening for decades throughout Latin America—in Lima and Guatemala City for example—so far it seems Mamani’s cholets are a unique cultural phenomenon They came about from a specific political and cultural moment combined with years of economic growth concentrated in one city among hands that have for centuries been oppressed and dismissed as belonging to second-class citizens Could El Alto’s architecture serve as a model for other countries It’s fun to imagine Oklahoma City peppered with bold native buildings Detroit with distinctly African American designed buildings or San Francisco dotted with Chinese American colors; it’s also There’s one more thing that makes the cholets unique and it’s no less important: The wealthy Aymara are not simply moving into the rich neighborhoods of La Paz and assimilating there [I’m staying] here,” says Condori when I asked if he’d ever consider living in La Paz “It’s a sentimental thing with this building – with my mother; it’s the place where I grew up Be sure to download the Quartz Brief app for iOS to explore our 3D model of El Alto in augmented reality Michelin factory workers burnt tyres in western France on Tuesday and vowed to stage a strike after the tyre company said it would close two plants by early 2026 over collapsing sales German parts maker Schaeffler announced that it would cut 4,700 jobs in Europe European car sales have fallen at home and in key market China as demand for electric vehicles has fallen and competition from Chinese manufacturers has grown said the plant closure had become "unavoidable" due to competition from Asian tyre makers as well as the "worsening competitiveness of Europe" Employees at the Cholet plant voted in favour of staging a strike set tyres on fire during a protest in front of the plant "They put the 900 employees in a room like cows in a slaughterhouse and announced that it was all over," Morgane Royer denounced "the rogue version of capitalism" Employees also burnt tyres and pallets in front of the Vannes plant said: "It's a black day for Vannes and an earthquake for the region." Michelin vowed to support the two regions by creating "as many jobs as those eliminated" and I want to say to all these employees that we will not leave anyone by the wayside," Michelin CEO Florent Menegaux told AFP The Cholet plant mainly manufactures light truck tyres -- a segment that "has seen a significant decline" in Europe in recent years which are then used to manufacture tyres in countries including Spain and Italy Production volumes have been declining at the plant due to changing demand from truck tyre plants in Europe Michelin had already closed its La-Roche-sur-Yon site in western France in 2020 and is preparing to close two plants in Germany by 2025 Schaeffler said its cuts were in response to "the challenging market environment and ongoing transformation processes affecting the automotive supply industry" which specialises in making bearings for the automotive industry retail giant Auchan on Tuesday announced plans to axe 2,389 jobs in France and close around ten stores many employees and families in difficulty," said Franck Martineau Finance and Economy Minister Antoine Armand said the announcements by Michelin and Auchan were "extremely worrying." Armand said the government would do "everything in its power to help find a buyer" for one or both sites It might as well have been heaven when I was six years old On the inside there were rows and rows of NBA jerseys and balls stacked from the floor to the ceiling — and I wanted to touch them all grabbing each jersey and turning it around to see the name on the back I’d call my dad over to show him my favorite ones That place was special because we didn’t have anything like it back home in France My parents and I came to America every summer during my dad’s off-season When his season would end we’d head back to where Dad grew up and I’d get to live for a few months as an American kid the NBA felt like it was a million miles away Mum would come pick me up at four o’clock and take me home I’d rush through my homework and then wait until nobody was using our family computer I’d watch hours and hours of And1 mixtapes and highlight videos of my guys If I could go back and check my Internet history from back then I’m sure it would be just pages and pages of links like “BEST CROSSOVERS 2008/09” and “JUMPER COMPILATION NBA.” those players were literal human highlight reels who were capable of doing anything on the court when we walked into the NBA store in Orlando seeing their jerseys was like touching Superman’s cape was the hand imprints they had on the wall I think I could have fit five of my hands inside his palm There were pictures of him all over the store NBA basketball made me proud to have been born there Courtesy of Killian HayesBecause I had been born in the States I felt like I was a part of American basketball Like I was closer to it than all the kids I played with back in France I was always proud to introduce myself in class as Killian Hayes and most of the kids lived in the same neighborhood When I wasn’t watching NBA highlights after school I’d be out at the field playing soccer with my friends I never played on any organized teams — because once I put my hand inside Shaq’s I knew I wanted to play basketball forever — but everyone in town played soccer all the kids would talk about Ronaldo and Messi But one thing I want to make clear is this: France is absolutely a basketball country We might not have the international pedigree of other European countries but there is a great basketball culture in France I learned that from going to my dad’s games in Cholet The atmosphere at those games was more like a Champions League soccer match than it was an NBA game dagger bounce pass just as much as they loved the dunk I’d go to my dad’s practices from time to time after school Dad would lower the hoop for me and pick me up and let me dunk So for a long time he was pretty stiff competition I couldn’t post him up until a few years ago and I knew his journey hadn’t been straightforward He never made it to the league and he had to grind really hard in Europe to make a name for himself He knows the game of basketball — and the world of basketball — more than most people I think he knew that if I wanted to do this like if I really wanted to try to be a basketball player When I’d come back to America in the summers and we’d go down to the rec center and I’d play against some really good players who were older than me My dream wasn’t just to play basketball forever All those YouTube videos and trips to the CityWalk had left a mark on me But the road from Cholet to the NBA draft was hard to navigate my dad was considering coming back to Florida to try to play professionally So we also talked about me going to one of the big high schools in the States to get myself ready for college ball I had seen so many videos online of the McDonald’s All American games and the big AAU tournaments and all those different youth basketball events and all those guys were choosing between different colleges to go to — it just seemed like the dream But my parents and I did a lot of talking about the best route to take going forward A part of me was a bit disappointed when we came to the decision I trusted my dad and his experience with the high school and college system in America It’s not that it’s bad or can’t produce great players — lots of superstar players go through it — but he just felt that for me the most important thing was to learn how to be a great pro all the hype videos — they don’t mean anything if you get to the NBA and can’t make it work as a professional basketball player.” And with all of the options laid out in front of me I decided to stay in France and become a professional player at Cholet I played my first game as a pro at 16 years old Most kids that age are juniors in high school but there I was going up against grown men — playing for their livelihoods The teams in France rely on the prize money for making the playoffs and the gate proceeds to stick around I had grown up being one of the better players on my junior teams and I’d gotten used to forcing plays from time to time because I knew I had the ability to do it But I learned quickly that the best way to grow was to be uncomfortable I knew I wouldn’t play much if I couldn’t get into the lineup and I also think he knew that I would rise to the challenge I couldn’t get my drivers license in France until I was 18 so my first few years with Cholet my parents and teammates used to have to drive me to and from practices and games People always offered to help because they knew I cared so much about Cholet I had been going to the arena since before I can remember I think of guys like Abdoulaye Ndoye and Warren Woghiren — who started their pro careers around the same time I did They helped me so much in the weight room and on the court and also helped me grow as a player and a professional That was when the NBA changed for me from a dream to an objective An objective is something you cross off a list — something you know you can do I took the next step in my career and decided to move away from home I went to Germany to play for ratiopharm Ulm in the Basketball Bundesliga We played in the EuroCup against some of the best teams from all over the continent a chance to see the game in different parts of the world — it was just really rewarding I used to watch March Madness highlights as a boy The sold-out football stadiums going crazy for Duke and North Carolina … I thought it was just the coolest thing ever That’s why the decision to stay in Europe was tough But if I could go back in time and tell myself to have confidence in the choice I would talk about the places the game can take you I was 18 years old and playing pro basketball in Germany Spain and all these other places to play a game I learned more than I ever could have imagined and I have zero regrets about the path I was fortunate enough to take All of those experiences have prepared me for what’s next I’m ready to cross an objective off my list I’m ready to be a professional basketball player in the NBA Everything I’ve done in my life has been leading to this moment I got a DM from Tony Parker the other day on Instagram He was just saying hello and that he wanted to talk sometime He’s obviously a legend and I was shocked to see it But it made me realize something — or at least it made me think about something I used to dream about During all the interviews with the NBA teams before the draft they would ask me about what type of player I wanted to be I told them the truth — about the dream that had been with me since I was a little kid: I want to be a great pro I want to be a teammate who guys in the room can rely on But I also told them that I am incredibly proud of where I was raised I want to be one of the best players to come out of France But I know I can turn it into an objective and my earliest childhood memories involve places like Dyckman court in Inwood What To Know Before You JumpAt a time when I was on the fence as to what I was going to do it was actually Coach K who convinced me to make the leap © 2025 Minute Media - 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