Fos Provence Basket – Betclic Elite

Freshly promoted from Pro B last season, Fos-sur-Mer saved his place in the top flight last season, finishing in particular with a record identical to that of Orleans, relegated to the second division. With a lot of heart and thanks to an irreproachable state of mind, the Fosséens chained three victories to play a second season in a row in the top flight with higher ambitions thanks to the very good arrivals during the off-season. Review of last season, look back on summer transfers and heading to the new season with Fos-sur-Mer’s ambitions and workforce for this 2022/23 financial year.

Review of Fos-sur-Mer last season

After two defeats to begin its return to the top flight, Fos-sur-Mer was able to raise its head quickly at the start of last season so as not to sink in the standings. Fallouts of Nanterre or Paris Basketball between October and November, the months of December and January will be very badly negotiated with a series of seven consecutive defeats including four defeats at home.

Without much more success with only three successes between January and March, it is a very successful end to the season which will save the team with three victories against direct competitors for the maintenance including Le Portel to save themselves in extremis during the last day.

We should also note the very good course of the Southerners who reached the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France, only showing themselves against Pau-Orthez after four consecutive successes.

The movements of the off-season

The off-season was eventful in the Bouches-du-Rhône with many arrivals at all positions but also on the Byers bench. After the departure of Rémi Giuitta, coach of Fos-sur-Mer last season, the Mediterranean staff trusted Rémy Valin, former coach of Denain to take the reins of a team with new ambitions in Betclic Elite.

With the departure of the two leaders of last season, Bodian Massa left for Strasbourg and Mockevicius in Romania, the Fosséens trust a youngster from Paris Basketball Milan Barbitch, 20, under the wing of one of the players who is experienced on the European scene, the American Stephen Brown. Successful leader with Göttingen, he will be one of the attractions of the Fos-sur-Mer season, being well surrounded by another player who arrived this summer, the American Gabe DeVoe from Codogne in Italy.

Arrivals : Rémy Valintrainer (Denain), Dylan Affo Mama (Tours/Pro B), Johan Passave Ducteil (The Portel), Milan Barbitch (Paris Basketball), Stephen Brown (Goettingen/Germany), Gabe DeVoe (Codogno / Italy), Jordan Degre (first pro contract), Garlon Green (Oradea/Romania), Shevon Thompson (Agua Caliente Clippers/G-League), Trevon Scott (Agua Caliente Clippers/G-League).

Departures: Rémi Giuitta, Edouard Choquet (retirement), Kevin McClain, Jamar Diggs, Deishuan Booker (Hapoel Galil Elyon/Israel), Lasan Kromah (Fuenlabrada/Spain) D.J. Stephens (BC Prometey/Ukraine), Sadio Doucoure, Niklas Caner-Madley (retirement), Jean-Michel Mipoka (Orléans/Pro B), Zachery Peacock, Bodian Massa (Strasbourg), Egidijus Mockevicius (Constanta/Romania).

Fos-sur-Mer workforce in 2022/2023

Leaders: Stephen Brown, Milan Barbitch

Rears: Gabe DeVoe, Jordan Degre

Wingers: Garlon Green, Dylan Affo Mama

Power forwards: Allan Dokossi, Trevon Scott

Pivots : Shevon Thompson, Johan Passave-Ducteil

Coach : Rémy Valin

Club ambitions and standings

Despite finishing sixteenth in the standings last season, the club has clear ambitions: to ensure that they stay in the top flight as quickly as possible.

Following last season’s excellent performance in the Coupe de France, Fos-sur-Mer supporters will need to vibrate to the rhythm of the exploits of their players who will have to both seduce their fans and be realistic and regular to avoid setbacks suffered last season.

Player to watch: Stephen Brown

Freshly arrived from Göttingen where he had a very good end to the 2021/22 season, Stephen Brown will be the leader of the starting five for Fos-sur-Mer this season. Despite his 1.80m, he won over the staff with his technique and his ability to break through opposing defenses and especially those with very large builds such as the Betclic Elite.

If the very great scorers of last season left like Booker, Mockevicius or Kromah, the leader will have the difficult task of adapting and uniting around him a very reorganized workforce which will have to quickly take its brands.

Calendar for the 2022-2023 season

J2 : 01/10/2022, vs Nanterre

D8: 05/11/2022, @ ASVEL

J9 : 19/11/2022, @ Strasbourg

J15 : 27/12/2022, vs AS Monaco

D16: 07/01/2023, vs Boulogne Levallois

J25 : 28/03/2023, vs ASVEL

J28 : 15/04/2023, @ AS Monaco

D29: 25/04/2023, vs Bourg-en-Bresse

J34 : 16/05/2023, vs Limoges