Jacques Monclar (before Antibes-Blois): “I saw it coming, this final between my boys! »

Jacques Monclar, former international (201 selections between 1978 and 1988) and professional trainer (1989-2007), consultant for beIN Sports since 2012 : “I saw it coming, this final between my boys, but the real emotion is when they qualified, more than the final itself since I follow it at a distance from the United States. Of course, I would have liked to experience that alongside them, but I’m not worse off where I am in a way (smiles). What I miss is being with them before and after these matches. Before the final, I sent them the same text telling them how good what they are doing is no matter what. After the first leg, I had Ben by message and Julien by video. For Ben, the situation is tough, he knows what he owes Blois and vice versa. He imagines all the people that it would hurt if the ADA did not go up and it would spoil his happiness to go up (with Antibes). In Blois, it restructured, progressed, after difficult times in Antibes then in Charleroi.

For Julien, Blois is a great success because he has dedicated himself to building a great club starting from National 1. They are experiencing a great thing like all these clubs which have climbed the ladder, from Limoges Nanterre via Cholet, Chalon, etc.

Today (Saturday) I will be on the plane between Boston and San Francisco (where Game 5 of the NBA Finals is played on Monday), but I should see the last quarter (from Antibes-Blois) when I arrive at the airport. Or if there’s wifi on the plane, I’ll take LNB TV to seventh heaven (laughs). Of course, one of the two will lose, but when one of us wins, everyone wins.

Now for the line of Monclar, the objective will be to complete a century of basketball (smiles). I made my career in the continuity or almost of that of my father (Robert, 142 selections, played in three Olympic tournaments) who really started his in 1950. So, coach or manager, I wish Ben and Julien still be here in 2050…”