The BYers end the year 2024 with a final shock against Caen during their first match of the season at the Palais des sports in Marseille this Friday evening (8 p.m.).
At the initiative of the National Basketball League, the “Christmas Days” occupy the field during these end-of-year periods, and each season allow Fos Provence Basket to offer a nice gift to the Marseille public by relocating one of its matches at the Palais des sports in Marseille.
THE BYers will therefore return to Marseille this Friday evening to face Caen in a context still ” complicated “as coach Rémi Giuitta recognized. Winners against Antibes two weeks ago (83-82), the Provençaux did not manage to continue last Friday on the HTV floor, beaten 84-80. In addition, Mamadou “Petit” Niang, who had barely returned, was unable to train yesterday, being bedridden.
Expected in the money-time
Facing a Caen team which has a solid record (10 wins, 7 losses, 7e of Pro B) and a well-oiled collective, the Fosséens are still on the razor's edge, but remain determined to raise their heads for good.
“Despite last Friday's defeat, there is improvement over the weeks and matchessaid interior Vincent Vent yesterday after training. The last one is frustrating because we were in front, we had a great first half but we weren't able to continue until the end. They also put in some big shots. There is frustration but we will try to make up for it against Caen. »
As in the last two matches, the outcome could still be disputed in the money-timethe last five minutes where everything can still be decided. You will have to have strong nerves and remember the small errors made at Hyères-Toulon, a late throw-in, a free throw given, which were costly in the end.
For Rémi Giuitta, the series of injuries delayed his group's cohesion, an essential element in these decisive moments, which make a match win or lose.
“We usually lack collective experience, collective response. All of this has been building since August. But the truth is that since then, we have not had two weeks in a row with the same squad and we have never played two matches with the same teamhe recalled. There is one player who leaves, the other who returns… These are not excuses, but this instability means that when you are in tough times, instead of resolving the problem with a glance to move forward, there , as soon as there is a small grain of sand in the machine, it stops very quickly, and we do not have the collective experience of getting out of this bad spiral. »
End 2024 well
The Fosséens will also be tested in their aggressiveness and intensity against a team from Caen which is promoted in name only. The Palais des sports de Marseille will also have its role as sixth man to play for this last major meeting of 2024 that the BYers hope to end on a good note.
“It's a promoted team but one that has a lot of experience, with players who know the championship, it plays hard. Above all, we must not underestimate them, on the contrary. We have to take it as a big match, especially at home for our first of the season in Marseille. Winning before the break is always important, so we will give everything”concluded Vincent Vent.
Romain DAVESNE
Fos-sur-Mer – Caen
18e Pro B day.
8 p.m., Marseille Sports Palace.
AROUND THE MATCH
Brandon Young's home premiere
The new leader from Douche, who came to replace Illia Sydorov, played his first match in Toulon last Friday, putting an end to an administrative imbroglio which lasted almost three weeks. An encouraging first outing with 10 points, 4 assists and 2 interceptions in 30 minutes.
“He will bring us, he has already shown it against HTV. He has qualities. He is a completely different player from Illia Sydorov, who already has more experience, more accuracy who is very good in the drive, capable of making others play too. He is arriving at a somewhat difficult time. He also needs to be in a good group to express himself. We have to integrate it into systems, create gaming affinities, that’s what’s complicated at the moment”declared Rémi Giuitta. It will therefore be his first “at home” this evening.
The key to the match: the rebound battle
Caen has made a specialty of the exercise by grabbing nearly 39 rebounds on average per game (fourth best average in Pro B). The Fosséens, for their part, showed shortcomings in this area even if the returns of Junior Etou and Mamadou “Petit” Niang made it possible to correct the situation. We will also have to be particularly vigilant regarding the Normans' ability to steal offensive rebounds, 13.5 on average per game!
The stifling premiere of Stéphane Eberlin
The Caen coach has already achieved a nice achievement under his belt at the Palais des Sports in Marseille. It was almost eleven years ago, on January 17, 2014, when he came to win with Souffelweyersheim, then also promoted to Pro B. Already faithful to his playing philosophy, the Alsatians had opposed a zone defense closed with a double turn which had foiled the Fosséens. Jérémy Tschamber's incredible 6/6 3-pointer did the rest (67-72).
