Pôle France secures their second victory of the season against an NM1 heavyweight!

Pôle France continues to make great strides in NM1. Already victorious in Rennes on December 16, the players of Pôle France Basket delivered a major blow by defeating Tours Métropole Basket, who were firmly positioned in second place in Pool A. A symbolic victory, but above all revealing of the rise in power of a young, deep, and increasingly competitive group.

NM1

– Round 21

Pôle France95

Tours94

A collective success against a Pool A powerhouse

Facing a talented Tours team, led notably by Théo Léon, Pôle France delivered a complete performance without hesitation. Defensive intensity, ball sharing, and contributions from numerous players allowed the INSEP residents to tip the match in their favor.

This second victory of the season is far from anecdotal: Tours had only lost six times before this away game and remained a serious candidate at the top of the standings. By winning against such an opponent, Pôle France sends a clear message to the rest of the pool.

Soliman and Yangala as conductors

Nathan Soliman, all-around activity

Already identified as one of the engines of this generation, Nathan Soliman (2.01m, 16 years old) was once again omnipresent. With 12 points on 5/9 shooting, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and especially 4 steals, he impacted both sides of the court. The only downside was his free-throw accuracy (1/6), which this time had no consequence on the outcome of the match.

Nathan Soliman
(Born 2009 | 6’8″ wing | INSEP Academy – NM1)
🆚 Tours Métropole

Nathan Soliman delivered a solid two-way outing in NM1 play against Tours Métropole, impacting the game with efficiency, activity, and physical presence in limited minutes against senior competition.… pic.twitter.com/g52w8txUZ6

— Scouting lab (@scouting_lab) January 24, 2026

Messi Yangala, the most complete performance

Another Pôle France selection for the Young Star Game, Messi Yangala (2.00m, 16 years old) delivered a very high-level performance, finishing with the best efficiency rating of the match (21). In 29 minutes, he compiled 15 points on 4/9 shooting, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals, perfectly illustrating the versatile profile sought at INSEP.

🇫🇷 Messi Yangala
(Born 2009 | 6’8″ Forward | INSEP Academy – NM1)
🆚 vs Tours Métropole

Messi Yangala delivered a well-rounded performance against Tours Métropole, showing maturity and versatility against senior competition while continuing to expand his offensive game.

⸻

📊… pic.twitter.com/uJth6eCI4C

— Scouting lab (@scouting_lab) January 24, 2026

READ ALSO

Levallois and Le Havre cruise and extend their lead at the top of both pools

Levallois and Le Havre cruise and extend their lead at the top of both pools

Jan 24, 2026

Gabriel Pantel-Jouve

A decisive backcourt

Behind them, the depth of the roster made the difference. The backcourt provided a major offensive threat throughout the game. Natéo Des Bordes (1.89m, 17 years old) finished as the leading scorer with 21 points on 8/16 shooting, including 4/8 from 3-point range, in just 25 minutes.

🇫🇷 Nateo Gabriel Des Bordes
(Born 2008 | 6’5″ Guard | 6’7″ Wingspan | INSEP Academy – NM1)

In the win against Tours Métropole, Nateo de Borges delivered one of his most efficient and impactful performances of the season at NM1 level, confirming his offensive upside against… pic.twitter.com/ptCDwQuNis

— Scouting lab (@scouting_lab) January 24, 2026

Alongside him, Yaël Masdieu-Reynaert (17 points on 7/17, 3 assists in 30 minutes) and Matthys Mahop (17 points on 5/15 and 7 rebounds in 31 minutes) also made their presence felt, allowing Pôle France to maintain constant intensity.

🇫🇷 Matthys Mahop
(Born 2008 | 6’4″ Point Guard | INSEP Academy – NM1)

🆚 Tours Métropole

⸻

🏆 NM1 — FFBB

📊 Full Game Stats
•MIN: 31:04
•PTS: 18
•FG: 5/15 (33%)
•2PT: 5/13 (38%)
•3PT: 0/2
•FT: 8/9 (88%)
•REB: 7 (1 ORB, 6 DRB)
•AST: 1
•STL: 1
•TO: 2
•Fouls Drawn:… pic.twitter.com/TlLILb85s2

— Scouting lab (@scouting_lab) January 24, 2026

A momentum that is confirmed

This victory confirms a well-known trend in NM1: Pôle France progresses as the months go by. After a difficult start to the season, François Peronnet’s youngsters are clearly gaining momentum. Their first success in Rennes on December 16 opened the door. Beating Tours, who were alone in second place before this round, marks a new milestone.

Opponents are now warned: the U18 residents of INSEP should no longer be underestimated.

Belgrade objective

Beyond the championship, this rise in power fits into a very specific calendar. François Peronnet’s group is aiming for continuous progression until the ANGT qualifying tournament in Belgrade, scheduled for February 20-22. At this pace, Pôle France could well continue to play spoiler in NM1 in the coming weeks.