Chance sometimes likes to make mischievous winks. While the draw for the round of 16 of the Coupe de France was carried out by Ruddy Nelhomme, the last two balls provided a poster reviving many beautiful memories for lovers of Poitevin basketball.
Because Poitiers Basket 86, currently eighth in Pro B, will host Bourg-en-Bresse on January 7, sixth in Betclic Elite, finalist of the Eurocup and semi-finalist of the last championship. Led by the new coach of the French team, Frédéric Fauthoux, the Bressan club has become a reference since its return to the highest French level in 2017.
Common history
If they are now in quite distant dimensions, the PB and the JL Bourg, have in the past engaged in Homeric duels in Pro B when Ruddy Nelhomme was the coach of the Poitevin club (2007-2019).
From his first season on the bench of the Vienne club, the former assistant of Vincent Collet in the French team (2010-2024) had eliminated in the semi-final of the play-offs, without having the advantage of the field, Bourg- en-Bresse then favorite, to take the PB to the final at Bercy in spring 2008. If it had been lost against Besançon (63-76), the following year, it was again in eliminating the Bressans in the semi-final that the Poitevins had gone to Bercy where they won their promotion to Pro A by beating CSP Limoges.
After the relegation of PB in 2013, the two clubs found themselves in the antechamber of the elite and, as a symbol, faced each other in the final of the play-offs. But this time, JL Bourg coached by Frédéric Sarre was the strongest, achieving its rise by winning both matches.
A very high level sure value
If the Ain club then completed a return trip for two seasons in Pro B, it has since continued to gain momentum to settle at the top of the Betclic Elite table while also becoming a regular in the Eurocup for five seasons, nurturing numerous talents, like Zaccharie Risacher, the first Frenchman to be selected in first position in the 2024 NBA Draft.
A striking club, in more than one way, that Poitevin supporters will see up close, on January 7 while meeting the French internationals who won against Cyprus at the Arena (85-70), Sunday November 25, Hugo Bénitez and Jean-Marc Pansa, and of course the coach Frédéric Fauthoux.
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