Without Tima Pouye, Tango Bourges Basket aims to avoid Tarbes trap in playoff opener

Tango Bourges Basket begins its playoff campaign this Thursday evening (8:50 PM) on Tarbes Gespe Bigorre’s court, in a first leg quarter-final that brings back painful memories. Defeated at this stage by Tarbes last year, the Bourges team starts this new series with ambition… but without their guard Tima Pouye (5’9″, 26), who is being rested as a precaution.

A quarter-final with revenge in mind

In 2024, Bourges made an early playoff exit, stopped right in the quarter-finals by an unleashed Tarbes team. While the return leg didn’t allow them to close the gap, this setback remains a vivid memory, even though the roster has been partially renewed since then. « Half of the girls weren’t here for that quarter-final, » recalls Pauline Astier in Le Berry Républicain. « For those who experienced it, it will serve as a lesson. But there’s no point dwelling on it too much, because each game is different. »

✌️🚌 #FiertéTango pic.twitter.com/ShiaXCKUsU

— Tango Bourges Basket (@BourgesBasket) April 16, 2025

Tima Pouye resting, Juliette Bourgeois called up

For this crucial first meeting, Olivier Lafargue must do without Tima Pouye. The French international, dealing with muscle issues, didn’t travel. « It’s nothing serious, » explains the Bourges coach. « It didn’t prevent her from playing in the EuroLeague Final Six, but we needed to be careful. If we want to count on her for the end of the season, she needs two or three extra days. » In her absence, young Juliette Bourgeois (5’5″, 19), from the training center, will be on the team sheet.

Measured confidence and vigilance required

Regular season leaders, the Tango team enters this series as favorites. But they absolutely want to avoid overconfidence. « We’re not taking anyone lightly, » insists the group, well aware of the danger posed by a Tarbes team that’s always tough at home, led by coach François Gomez.

The return leg is scheduled for next Tuesday at the Prado, where Bourges hopes to secure their semi-final ticket.

𝙺𝙾𝙿 𝙾𝙵 𝘼𝙂𝙋 𝘿𝙀 𝙏𝙀𝙓𝘼𝙇𝘾𝙃𝙀 👊💥

Le leader incontesté de la saison régulière, Bourges (1er) défie Tarbes (8e) en quarts de finale des playoffs de #LaBoulangereWonderligue pour un remake de la saison passée 🔙

🟠 @BourgesBasket ⚔️ @tgbbasket 🔵

Match 1️⃣ – Jeudi 17… pic.twitter.com/U1B01MY4Rt

— Sport en France (@sport_en_france) April 16, 2025