In one offseason, he almost tripled his rating, from 3 to 8.3, thanks to 6.8 pts, 3.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists swarmed in 21 minutes on average this season…
In one offseason, he almost tripled his rating, from 3 to 8.3, thanks to 6.8 pts, 3.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists swarmed in 21 minutes on average this season.
Last Saturday, the native of Saint-Eulalie in Gironde, was a driving force in the victory against Le Mans (89-85), with, beyond the figures (9 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists), an attitude of archi-precious leader in an external sector expected to strengthen at the beginning of January.
In the meantime, with two matches still to be checked in five days, Eric Bartecheky hopes to be able to count on a Gérald Ayayi as sharp as in his last appearances to end 2022, starting this Friday on the Roanne floor, against a Choir against which the back had had his best game last season (12 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists), “with the same feelings and mentality as against Le Mans”, remembers the person who took the hair of the beast. Including in his speech.
How do you explain the complete performance achieved against Le Mans, with positive activity in all sectors?
“The desire was to make myself effective, useful to the team, as we had discussed with the coach. I used my minutes to be intense, to be on all the balls, opportunistic. There you go, it worked well for me and helped the team a lot. It is in this register that I can find my place in the group, to be the captain of this intensity which we lacked in the previous matches. »
Being good in a victory is even more rewarding?
“Exactly, it was the objective to finally be good in a victory so that it becomes a reference match, on which I can build. »
We also feel that you have gained in consistency this season…
“I became aware of my responsibilities in the team, of the importance of my role. It’s a form of pressure but also a chance to be in this position. Last year, I bet on the flash, the match where I could be noticed. Now, I bet on regularity, length, hoping to provide guarantees each time. Le Mans must serve as a foundation. »
With necessarily more pleasure on the ground?
“Yes, more fun when you see that it allows the team to win. »
In this period when the club is looking for foreign reinforcements for your position, is this also a way of showing that you are there and that the staff can count on you?
“Yes, that’s for sure, even if I’ve never been very careful about that. I find it difficult to demand more, to go and ask for more, if I myself feel that I am not at the desired level. It’s more a way of reaffirming my level by showing that if they want a new player, he has to be more complementary and not necessarily in my register. In quotes, it’s like an aid to the management to show him in which register to direct his research. Anything activity is my domain (laughs). »
What is missing for the team to finally impose itself on the outside?
“This extra energy that we have at home with our audience. We are going to Roanne with the desire to chain two victories in a row for the first time to end the month of December with a decent record. This trip to Roanne is important in several respects, mentally to break a series, which would revive us completely. »
Is the team ready to take out the bulletproof vests against this flammable attack from Roanne?
“It’s like facing Gravelines at the Palace (91-80 victory), it goes through the defense. We know that if we don’t defend together, we won’t succeed. Again, it’s a question of energy, not experience. There is no age to lead by example and show the way to my teammates. »
Romain Perchicot
“I became aware of my responsibilities in the team, of the importance of my role. It’s a form of pressure but also a chance to be in this position. »
