Paul Eboua Returns to Italy After ASVEL Stint

Paul Eboua's departure from ASVEL was anticipated and has now materialized. The Cameroonian forward, who joined ASVEL on loan in January, officially remained a player for Olimpia Milan this summer. However, he will not be returning to Lombardy. Instead, the 2.03m, 26-year-old power forward is set to join Derthona Basket, where he will play alongside former SQBB and BCM pivot Dominik Olejniczak. Derthona Basket is slated to face Le Mans in the first round of the EuroCup.

This marks a return to Italy for Eboua, who first made a name for himself in Pesaro before playing for Brescia, Cremona, and Trapani earlier in his career. During his time with Villeurbanne, the Cameroonian international averaged 7.6 points and 4.3 rebounds per game in 19 minutes across 18 EuroLeague appearances.

"I wanted to return to Italy and play for a well-structured and highly organized club. I had the opportunity to be contacted by Coach Fioretti, and I immediately appreciated him, both on a human level and for his advice. It will therefore be an excellent opportunity for me to wear the Derthona jersey," Eboua explained in a statement. "The EuroLeague allowed me to become aware of my strengths. I had started the season well with Trapani, I was the best rebounder in Serie A, and I arrived in France in great shape. I didn't know exactly what my new team expected of me, as everything happened very quickly, but I adapted very quickly to the rhythm of my teammates and the EuroLeague. At ASVEL, I made a considerable leap forward, both mentally and technically. Playing so many games at such a high tempo taught me to manage many new situations on the court. I had the opportunity to play power forward for five months, which allowed me to broaden my game, better understand positioning, improve my outside shooting, and be more useful to my teammates. In short, this year gave me a real boost for the next one. I believe I can immediately bring rebounds, energy, and defense to the team. These are my first contributions to Derthona."