Gala evening and high-flying performance by the Antibes Sharks, who dominate Limoges 83-71. With seven victories in eleven games, the team from the Cรดte d’Azur is having a great start to the championship and can aim for more than just staying in the league.
A delight, an evening that will be remembered. Yes, there are nights like this when everything works. Despite a very challenging start to the game, the Antibes team showed great strength of character to dominate a French champion team that is more uncertain than ever. It’s a prestigious victory.
It was necessary to start the game well against a CSP team struggling for a few weeks (2 victories in the last 9 games). They missed the mark, and despite Antibes’ attempts inside and outside, nothing was going in and Limoges took the lead (0-9, 3rd minute). This is when Julien Espinosa chose to call a timeout to get the team back on track without panicking. Akil Mitchell stopped the bleeding and the Sharks got back into the game (10-13, 6th minute). Two standout players for Antibes were Tim Blue with 8 points and Boris Dallo scoring 5 points (10 points in total). But it was Limoges who led at the end of the quarter (20-21).
Antibes leaves CSP behind
If there is a quarter that stands out for Antibes this season, it is this one. Julien Espinosa’s men took the lead thanks to a high-quality performance by Moustapha Fall with 8 points in 10 minutes (24-22, 12th minute). In two minutes, the Sharks scored a bunch of seven points and widened the gap (31-25 then 38-30, 17th minute). Limoges was no longer in the game; their defense was overwhelmed, and their success had vanished. The outstanding point guard Will Solomon got the crowd on their feet with a last long-distance shot that gave a comfortable lead going into the break (47-33).
The Saturday night walk
As if the 4,500 spectators weren’t excited enough, Frรฉdรฉric Bourdillon twice and Paul Carter hit threes early in the 3rd quarter, aligning the CSP. The result was immediate, and Antibes was leading by 23 points (56-33, 22nd minute). The German point guard from Limoges, so accurate since arriving in Limousin, woke up and scored 5 points. But Will Solomon missed nothing and brilliantly led his team (63-42, 25th minute). The Sharks devoured an unrecognizable Limoges team. With 10 minutes left, Antibes was way ahead, 68-49 thanks to four players scoring more than 10 points (Blue, Dallo, Fall, and Solomon).
A relaxation without consequence
Philippe Hervรฉ’s men regained a bit of seriousness and consistency with Mark Payne causing trouble with his liveliness and Nobel Bougou Colo, still Limoges’ best player this Saturday night. The gap decreased over the minutes (72-60, 35th minute). But the Antibes team didn’t lose their footing. A defensive awakening, credited to Moustapha Fall, who made a stunning block, his fourth of the night. The 7-foot-2 player finished the game with an exceptional stat line (15 points, 8 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 3 assists with a 25 efficiency). Will Solomon continued his long-range dominance (4/6 for three-pointers), Tim Blue continued to contribute in the paint, and Antibes calmly won 83-71.
Seven wins, sixth place in the standings (tied with the 4th), the Antibes Sharks impress French basketball and can dream of the Leaders Cup next February at Disneyland. For a newly promoted team, it’s a dream first part of the season, the result of foundational work done by Julien Espinosa and his staff.
Photo credit: Sharks Antibes
