After a mixed experience for his return to Poitiers Basket 86, Bathiste Tchouaff will relaunch himself in a club capable of hanging on the top of Pro B’s table.
A two-stroke waltz. If we want to spin the metaphor, so we can summarize the season of Bathist Tchouaff at Poitiers Basket 86. Local child, trained at PB before continuing his studies at the Federal Center (N1), then being launched in the Jeep lite with the Nanterre and Bourg-en Bresse, the Poitevin was expecting a lot from his return to his heart club. And vice versa.
But things did not go as hoped for both parties. Winner of the Fiba Eurocup and the Coupe de France 2017 with Nanterre, Bathist Tchouaff took a long time to find his mark in a losing team (18 and last in Pro B with 2 victories for 21 defeated at the time of the suspension of the championship cause of the coronavirus pandemic). Exactly fourteen games.
I would have liked to create something on
The time length
with the PB
During this period, the player accumulated 4.7 points scored on average per game for 15.5 minutes passed on the floor. Before showing an entirely different face, closer to its immense potential, during the last nine meetings with 16.6 points in 22.1 minutes.
Conscious of being a turning point in his career 22 years, the European champion U16 (in 2014) and U18 (in 2016) with the French team, returns without tongue in cheek on this delicate experience and voices a future that will not pass not by Poitiers.
Bathist, looking back, how do you analyze your season with the PB 86?
It took me a while to get used to a new championship. Until then, I had only played in young France team or in Jeep lite. I discovered for the first time the Pro B, a more athletic division, where the rackets are firmer. I struggled at first. But, despite the bad results, I tried things to regain confidence. And there was a click.
When did it happen?
With the arrival of Jrme Navier at the head of the team (Editor’s note: in January after Ruddy Nelhomme was removed and after the respondent insured by Antoine Brault). I was able to play my favorite position, that of back. I was able to touch more balls, play the counter attacks. Previously, I could alternate on the wing position (Editor’s note: to compensate for injuries), but the systems were more adapted to the qualities of Kvin Mendy. Jrme Navier has redistributed the cards.
How have you lived this season?
I was happy to come back to Poitiers. But losing to family, friends was not easy. Collectively, we were in a negative spiral. But, despite this tough season and the critics, the group has managed to stay united.
You were ready Poitiers (Pro B) by Bourg-en-Bresse (Jeep lite). What is your contractual situation today?
I still have a year of contract with Bourg-en-Bresse. But I want to continue saving playing time, expressing myself on the field and this requires guarantees. We discussed it with Frdric Sarre, the sports director of JL Bourg-en-Bresse, and we agreed. Even if nothing is official yet, I will not go through with my contract (Editor’s note: according to the specialized site Be Basket, Julien Desbottes, the president of Bourg, confirmed in an interview My (g) city that Bathiste Tchouaff was released from his last year of contract). I want to continue my progression in a club at the top of Pro B’s table.
The Be Basket site has spoken
contacts with Quimper and Gries-Oberhoffen. Do you confirm these tracks?
Yes, but there are others. My agent told me about the interest of Aix-Maurienne in particular.
Have you made your choice?
Yes. I want to pass a level. But it was not until May 27 (Editor’s note: date of the general assembly of the National Basketball League, the latter will decide among other things on the future of the PB in Pro B or N1) for things to settle.
So your future does not go through Poitiers?
We know my links with Poitiers Basket. I would have liked to create something the hard way with the PB as players like Sylvain Maynier, Guillaume Costentin or Pierre-Yves Guillard have been able to do, so many emblematic figures of this club. However, I also need a rel project to play the top of the table. Poitiers can’t offer it to me at the moment, it’s a shame.
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