This Saturday evening (8:30 PM), the Antibes Sharks will host the reigning French champion, ASVEL, owned by Tony Parker. The mission for Julien Espinosa’s men is simple: continue their unbeaten streak at home.
After four games, one might rate the Sharks a 15 out of 20. With three wins, two of which were at home, the season’s start is excellent, placing Antibes third in a tie for rankings. But starting tonight, things get tougher for Tim Blue, who’s been exceptional since the start of the season, and his teammates. The challenges of Hyères-Toulon and Orléans were tough, and the next opponents are ASVEL, Strasbourg (four-time finalist), Dijon, and the Monaco leader.
A Stirring Mix
The upcoming schedule is challenging but not impossible. The summer recruitment was clever and well-thought-out. The Blue-Solomon-Bourdillon trio remained, and a mix of youth and experience has arrived on the Côte d’Azur. Trained at the club, future Atlanta Hawks player Isaïa Cordinier started strongly with 17 points in the last game. Another player to watch is Tre Simmons (34 years), who played in Israel and has an excellent three-point shot. In the paint, the Otule-Tornato duo is finding their rhythm and delighting in bursts. The young talents Galliou (loaned by ASVEL), Gaines (in his first professional year), and Diarra (previously in ProB) will contribute for 10-12 minutes or more.
A Champion’s Challenges
The aftermath of a title is always difficult to handle. ASVEL is no exception. TP’s club lost Livio Jean-Charles this summer, who left to join his president-player in San Antonio, along with Andersen, Lighty, and Ware. To compensate for these departures, the Green Team brought in Bandja Sy from Pau, but the significant signing is Adrian Uter from Monaco. Watch out for Puerto Rican Walter Hodge, who was prominent in Cantu last season.
On the court, it’s a two-speed ASVEL that has already lost three of its first four games, including the latest at home against Chalons-Reims, after leading by 16 points in the middle of the third quarter. The only victory of the season was on the court of Strasbourg (84-76 thanks to 17 points from Meacham), a rematch of the June final. And for their debut in the Basketball Champions League, JD Jackson’s men were beaten at the buzzer in Varese.
On one hand, Antibes will want to continue its fine streak in its Azur Arena stronghold. On the other hand, ASVEL needs to finally start its season. A champion not participating in the Disneyland Leaders Cup (the top 8 teams at the end of the first phase) would be a stain.
