No Bormio for Monaco, a blessing in disguise? « We can sleep in our own beds »
Betclic ELITE - For the first time in years, AS Monaco didn't go to Bormio for its preseason training camp. With absences and a reduced roster, the Roca Team prepared at Gaston-Médecin. A change that, according to Alpha Diallo and Matthew Strazel, could even be an advantage.
Photo Credit : AS Monaco
A traditional summer gathering since 2016, the Bormio training camp didn’t take place this year. AS Monaco chose to stay home at Gaston-Médecin arena to start their preparation. This choice was also dictated by circumstances: Mike James took time to join the group, several international players were participating in EuroBasket, and Vassilis Spanoulis, the new coach, was himself involved with the Greek national team. As a result, preseason took place with a reduced roster and temporarily incomplete staff.
🙌 The traditional preseason camp in Bormio brings the group together 🤝 The #RocaTeam is getting settled 🤜🤛 pic.twitter.com/k96txX5qq7
— AS Monaco Basket 🇲🇨 (@ASMonaco_Basket) August 23, 2020
Strazel: « Getting used to our arena is a plus »
For Matthew Strazel (1.82m, 23 years old), who had experienced Bormio every summer since his arrival in 2022, this change isn’t bad news, quite the contrary:
« I actually think it’s better to stay around Monaco for the newcomers. They had time to adapt to our arena, to get their bearings. In previous years, we traveled a lot during preseason and those who had never played here didn’t really know the arena. Now we’ve worked on site, and I think that could be a small advantage for the start of the season. »
Diallo: « Sleeping in your own bed is better »
Same observation from Alpha Diallo (2.01m, 28 years old), who arrived in 2021 and was also used to the Italian camp:
« I don’t think it changed much. Most of the guys who were healthy were able to train and scrimmage. The only difference is the location. It might even be better here: we can sleep in our own beds » (smiles).
A season start under scrutiny
Now we’ll have to see if this choice will impact the start of the season. With a roster still in flux and very high objectives in both EuroLeague and Betclic ÉLITE, Monaco will need to quickly find its collective rhythm. But for Strazel and Diallo, the essentials were preserved: working together, in good conditions, and laying the foundation for a season where the Roca Team aims high.
Gabriel Pantel-Jouve est le fondateur et rédacteur en chef de BeBasket, qu’il anime depuis 2010 (sous le nom de Catch & Shoot). Passé par l’Ecole Publique de Journaliste de Tours, puis deux universités en Amérique du Nord, il a pu développer son expertise sur le basket français, de la Ligue Nationale aux divisions amateurs, durant ces 20 dernières années. En parallèle, il est aussi engagé dans le développement de clubs du côté de Montpellier.
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