Alain Louis did not go through four paths: “The supporters have done their job. It’s up to us to do ours, ”he said bluntly, Wednesday noon, on the eve of the start of the Alliance training camp.
New spring, new season of the Alliance of Montreal. In a Verdun Auditorium ready to host basketball, players and coaches met the media on Wednesday. After taking their official photo on the pitch, the players presented themselves one by one at a press conference in their tricolor uniform.
If there is a message to remember from all that has been said in this half-day, it is undoubtedly the declaration of Alain Louis which caps this article. The point guard, who is one of only four players from the 2022 edition returning this year, had the team’s few ups and many downs on the pitch last season. But this time will be different, he said confidently, as the team rely on a transformed squad.
“We’re going to be better, that’s for sure. That, I can promise you, he said. […] The culture is improving, the staff too. We returning players know what not to do. We will do our job this year. We have a better idea of what to do. I’m excited. »
Last season, the first in its history, the Alliance finished first in the LECB in attendance, but only won 4 games in 20 games. Three of those four wins have come in the first five games of the season.
” [Après] such a disappointing season, we have unfinished business,” said Nathan Cayo. We want to do things the right way this year and try to win a championship. »
more talent
Charles Dubé-Brais faced the Alliance while coaching the Ottawa Blackjacks last year. Here he is this season assistant to the general manager responsible for strategy and development as well as assistant coach of the Montreal team.
With a refreshing outspokenness, the Quebecer did not hesitate to explain what the Alliance lacked last year: talent.
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
Charles Dubé-Brais, assistant to the general manager responsible for strategy and development and assistant coach
“There was an interesting group of local players; some of them are back, and that’s a good first step in building a team. The fact remains that you will be dragged by your best players. At the professional level, this is even more true than in the younger calibers. »
In this sense, the general manager, Joel Anthony, attracted to Montreal three seasoned Americans in Ahmed Hill, Treveon Graham and Blake Francis. In summary: the first played with the Guelph Nighthawks in 2022 and finished the season at 11e ranking of the best scorers per game on the circuit. The second played four seasons in the NBA between 2016 and 2020. The third played the last two seasons in the G-League.
“There, I think we can look at the other teams eye to eye in terms of talent at the top of the workforce,” said Dubé-Brais.
“Now it’s about seeing what are the ways of playing that work best, the songs that go best around these players, but it’s already a very big step forward to have a better season than Last year. »
A fast team
Ahmed Hill, who greeted reporters in French upon his arrival, received several offers from different teams. He settled on Montreal mainly because of the atmosphere he witnessed when he faced the Alliance at the Verdun Auditorium last year. He wanted to “be a part of it,” he repeated a few times.
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
Ahmed Hill
When it came to the pressure of winning games this season for the Alliance, the full-back wasn’t the least bit worried. “There is always a pressure to win. You have to win everywhere, ”he simply launched.
A few months ago, new head coach Derrick Alston Sr. explained to The Press want to put a faster team on the field, who play well defensively. On Wednesday, Treveon Graham in turn mentioned that the “main asset” of this team will be its speed.
“The most important thing is that if we lose a game, we learn from that and we come back stronger,” said the 29-year-old who will be one of the team’s veterans. The most important thing is to win the championship. It’s a long season, we have to start somewhere and build. »
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
Treveon Graham
nine days
Precisely, training camp begins Thursday and will end on May 25, the day before the team’s first game against the Niagara River Lions in Verdun. Derrick Alston Sr. therefore has nine days to “get to know these guys” and try to create chemistry within the group while taking care not to “kill” his players in training.
“We have a good group, big talents. There, it’s our job to make sure they play well together,” noted the coach.
In the end, this season is a process. The idea, coaches and some players recalled, is to make sure the team improves from game to game. Ultimately, it’s all about time and steps. Joel Anthony illustrated it with an eloquent comparison: “Everyone remembers my time in Miami because we won, but I remember that we were the worst team in the League in my first season. As long as you’re going in the right direction, that’s what’s important and that’s what we’re doing here. »