The defense wins titles: Keny Foreau euphoric after Dijons historic victory

The parquet of the Accor Arena was the stage of a historic moment for JDA Dijon this Saturday. Facing a team from Le Mans, who were unfortunate finalists for the second consecutive year, the young Bourguignons turned their debut into a memorable triumph. Trailing by three points at halftime (35-32), Keny Foreau’s players unleashed a lightning storm after the break, propelled by a devastating 13-0 run and improved accuracy from beyond the arc.

Minutes after lifting the trophy, Keny Foreau could not hide his emotion, still in awe of his team’s performance. “For now, I am more in the euphoria. I am unable to put real words on what I will think about when I am calm,” he confessed, emphasizing that the club had not reached this level in over 50 years.

“If the offensive talent of Timéo Rigaux (voted MVP) or Lorenz Sanz shone in the second period, it was on the defensive end that the Dijon coach focused his message. A winning strategy against the Le Mans powerhouse. “For us, Le Mans was still the ultimate team to beat. Today, we asked for a defensive match. We were able to make big stops. It wasn’t the most beautiful game, but we made a huge impact, and that’s what we wanted,” analyzed the coach.

At halftime, Foreau found the right words to reinvigorate a team tense with pressure: “I told them that the game plan worked. Confidence always comes from defense. They have very fast players, we tried to slow them down, and behind, we like to reward ourselves by running. That’s the mindset we wanted to bring: first gain confidence in defense and then go all out.” For him, this title validates a clear philosophy: “Attack wins games, but defense wins titles.”

In addition to the leaders’ performances, the coach praised the contribution of Lenny Navilys (13 points, 13 rebounds), crucial when the experienced players were overwhelmed by emotions. “In the first half, when the leaders struggled to manage their emotions, he did the job. The key was rebounding, they are much more physical than us. He was able to hold the fort.”

This first U18 title is also the result of long-term work within the Burgundy training center. Foreau did not forget to dedicate this victory to those who laid the foundations of the project. “It’s a just reward for people like Élise Prodhomme and Fabien Romeyer who worked before I arrived. It’s an incredible team, full of selflessness. They are hungry. We may not always have the greatest offensive talents, but defending very strongly together makes the difference.”

Despite the inherent tension of a final at Bercy – an atmosphere he had already experienced as an assistant with the professionals but found much more challenging to handle this time – Keny Foreau could rely on his staff to keep a clear head. “They saw that I was a bit crazy on the side, and at certain moments they were able to tell me, ‘Calm down, we need you.'” A perfect balance for a Saturday that will be forever etched in JDA’s history.

– Context: The JDA Dijon basketball team won a historic victory over Le Mans in the U18 final at Accor Arena. – Fact Check: The article discusses the emotional reactions of the coach and players, the strategic focus on defense, and the team’s collective success in winning the title.