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BasketballPresentation: Monthey is not more ambitious
Before the start of the new SB League season, we continue our overview of the seven French-speaking clubs with the BBC Monthey.
Brunell Tutonda, on the right, will start his fourth season in the colors of Valais.
freshfocus
Swept 3-0 in the series by the future champion Friborg Olympic in the quarter-finals of the play-offs in the spring, the BBC Monthey, who finished 8th in the regular season, do not have overflowing ambitions for the coming year. . “We are aiming for 7th place, no higher, concedes coach Patrick Pembele. This group may be more experienced but in terms of talent, we are not much stronger. Last season, the Valais team attacked their championship with seven consecutive defeats, only winning their first match on December 4: in other words, the chances of doing worse are almost nil. Especially since Monthey comes out of a successful preparation with four successes in as many games.
The player to watch:
A bit like for Killian Martin at Union Neuchâtel, Ilija Vranic must take a new step at Monthey. After a good Basel season with the Starwings (8 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists on average) which opened the doors to the Swiss team, the Zurich position 4 arrives in Valais and should be an important part of the chessboard. by Patrick Pembele. Moreover, it is difficult to see how the technician could not integrate it into his base five. Unless he chooses to start matches with a Humphrey – Langford racquet?
Ilija Vranic with Starwings during a meeting in Lugano last February.
Marusca Rezzonico / Freshfocus
The Swiss contingent:
Patrick Pembele does not hide it: “We hoped for better in terms of recruitment (note: no contract extensions) Swiss players, in addition to Ilija.” The Boars coach wanted to keep his shooter Clayton Le Sann but the latter chose Geneva. Marlon Kessler (Boncourt) was not retained but for the rest, the Swiss base has hardly moved at Reposieux: Thomas Fritschi, Thomas Salman, Maxime Rentsch and Brunell Tutonda have returned for a year. In the news section, Mathieu Giroud and Matthew Eberle (23 years old, 198 cm). The latter, position 3/4 born in the United States but originally from Winterthur, has forged a nice little reputation as a shooter in recent years.
The foreigners:
On paper, the quartet seems rather balanced. Kevin Langford (36) convinced the leaders on his half-season last year (12 points and 4 rebounds on average) and will pair with the returning Markel Humphrey (35). Champion with the Boars in 2017, the former Union and Lions player was still worth 18 points and 8 rebounds last season in Lugano. The two veterans will have to supervise two young rookies from the United States: Jaizec Lottie (24 years old, 185 cm, post 1) and Jay Jay Chandler (23 years old, 195 cm, post 2). The first, pictured below, could be one of the nice surprises of the coming season.
Our prediction:
BBC Monthey will finish 8th in the regular season.
Previous presentations:
– The Vevey Riviera Basket, newly promoted with long teeth
– BC Boncourt has made a clean sweep of the past
