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Some people take time to find their place in a collective. For others, this propensity to acclimatize is natural. For Cierra Burdick, the relationship with Basket Landes has become truly close. The American interior arrived in Mont-de-Marsan one day in November, to compensate for the injury of another great from the “States”, Sam Fuehring.
Love at first sight was almost instantaneous. When he left in February, tears flowed, a symbol of attachment to the blue and white club. So much so that the double 3×3 world champion decided to come back voluntarily to improvise as a luxury water carrier for Julie Barennes’ gang since the Coupe de France final.
“When I played here, I told the whole team, the staff, that when we went to the final, because I was confident that we would go there, I would come back for the match,” says Cierra Burdick. . I’m a woman of my word, so I wanted to be there to support my team. »
Common values
The American only spent four months in Mont-de-Marsan, and yet. When she talks about Basket Landes, she only uses “we”. And so she didn’t hesitate for a second to take a plane from Springfield, in the United States, where she was playing a 3×3 tournament with Team USA, to Paris to follow “her team” in the final at Bercy against Bourges. All as close as possible to the action, since Cierra Burdick was on the bench, blue and white jersey on her shoulders. As if she had never left.
“He is someone who shares the same values as the club. I’m not even surprised that she came back, that she became so attached to the club, expresses Marie-Eve Paget, who regularly meets Burdick in 3×3 tournaments, including the one in Springfield. I know she loved being here, I even heard that she would like to come back. And then casually, she still wrote the story of this year. And Basket Landes always pays attention to the players who have contributed to what is happening within the club. »
“Veteran Leadership”
A Cup final experienced as no sportsman likes to experience a match: helpless, on the bench, without being able to intervene other than by sharing good vibes, high-fiving teammates or applauding a 3-pointer. She gives her analysis: “Honestly, I think we saw their age. It’s a very young team, especially since I left (laughs). Our inexperience was felt. At times, in matches like this, with a lot of pressure and emotions, it is difficult to channel these emotions. With more experience, veteran leadership, this energy and emotion could have been used more effectively. »
Between Basket Landes and Burdick, love at first sight was almost instantaneous.
Philippe Salvat/SOUTH WEST
“Veteran,” Cierra Burdick is. Before Basket Landes, the new thirty-year-old traveled all over the world, first in the WNBA, but also in Spain, Italy and Hungary, where she crossed paths with Sam Fuehring. But it is in the Landes that she tries her hand as the eleventh element of the blue and white collective. “I tried to give positive energy, encouragement, I’m a water carrier, I bring the balloons… I even keep Lex (Peterson) and Sam (Fuehring)’s lip balms during the matches! Anything I can do to help actually. I am here for them. »
Future coach ?
After Bercy, we found her in Tarbes then Mitterrand for the derby in the semi-finals against the TGB. During the warm-up, the interior, in addition to returning the balls to the shooters, carefully examined the placement of their feet. And corrected if necessary. Ready to be a coach, Cierra Burdick? “I would say… yes (laughs)! One day I would like to be a coach. I told Julie (Barennes): when I finish playing, I will try to coach at university, at home. But if I don’t like the atmosphere there, I’ll go to Europe. She told me she would take me on to her staff, I hope she keeps her word (smile). »
In the meantime, the interior had to leave for the United States and will therefore not be in support, at least not since Mitterrand, of “his” Basket Landes for the first round of the LFB final against Villeneuve-d’Ascq, this Saturday. The double world champion has to do: prepare for the Olympics with Team USA. And after ?
“Would I want a moment off, or to immediately go back to 5×5? We’ll see. Unfortunately, it won’t be here, I believe the workforce is already full, she emphasizes. Basket Landes is special, I wish them nothing but the best. I would love to come back and wear these colors, we’ll see. »
« Wait and see », comme on dit.
2024-05-09 05:33:00
#Cierra #Burdick #love #sight #helping #hand
