Building on their success acquired last Friday against Antibes, the Fosséens will present themselves this Friday at the Palais des Sports in Toulon with the desire to confirm, while Brandon Young will finally play his first match under his new colors.
The tide is starting to turn for Fos Provence Basket. After facing a massacre of injuries and going through a series of seven losses in eight games, the Provençaux raised their heads last Friday in their first derby against Antibes, winning down to the wire, 83 to 82.
The return from injury of Junior Etou was particularly beneficial. Beyond his stats (16 points, 6 rebounds), the 32-year-old interior displayed energy and determination which reflected on the rest of the team. “That’s what the coach asks me to do, to give everything I have”he said at the end of the meeting.
With Brandon Young, and perhaps Mamadou “Petit” Niang
For this new derby, away this time, against HTV this Friday, December 20, the BYers will also be able to benefit from new reinforcement, Brandon Young having finally qualified two weeks late. Bulgarian international, the leader who arrives from Turkish D2 will offer the possibility to Rémi Giuitta to give more breathing room to Lucas Bourhis and Rob Turner III, who have been in high demand in recent weeks.
“He is a player who will help expand the squad a little, bring a real additional quality rotation to the roster. Given the demand for excess energy that this division imposes on us, and even more so in the face of Hyères-Toulon, it will not be a luxury to be able to count on an extra soldier. He is a very complete player, who has lots of qualities”underlined coach Toucheen.
The icing on the cake would be to also be able to recover Mamadou “Petit” Niang, who had been suffering from back pain in recent weeks. A final test will be carried out before the match to assess his fitness and ability to help his teammates on the pitch.
This additional reinforcement would not be too much given the challenge that presents itself for Vincent Vent’s teammates, in particular to contain the imposing pivot of HTV Hamady Ndiaye (2.13m).
All the ingredients for a good derby
Promoted to Pro B this season, the Varois have already achieved some good results and have the same record as Fos-sur-Mer after sixteen days (6 wins, 10 defeats). Enough to spice up this derby a little more, which should first be played out in defense given the profile of the two teams.
“It’s a new derby that presents itself. I hope that we will be able to confirm after our victory against Antibes with another victory. We know what to expect with Jean-Louis Borg’s HTV. We know that it is a team that always displays a lot of intensity, defensive aggressiveness and combativeness. We will of course have to be ready to respond to the physical challenge that they will impose on us, and it is only at this price that we can hope for anything. It’s one of the best defenses in the division, so it will first start with investment, combativeness above all.”Rémi Giuitta warned.
After this new derby, the BYers will end the year 2024 with the reception of Caen at the Palais des sports in Marseille, on December 27.
Romain DAVESNE
Hyères-Toulon – Fos-sur-Mer
17e Pro B day.
Palais des sports de Toulon, this Friday at 8:30 p.m. (to follow live on LNBTV)
