The French basketball championship resumes this Friday with a clash for the Sharks Antibes. Julien Espinosa’s men will face SIG Strasbourg, last season’s finalist.
It’s the comeback! After a four-month break for the Sharks, far from the playoffs (14th – record of 12 wins – 22 losses) which ended in mid-June, it is time to officially return to the courts. With a roster that has changed by half (the average figure in Pro A is around 65-70%), Antibes is still aiming for survival but could be slightly more ambitious if a few individuals stand out.
Familiar faces
Captain Tim Blue is embarking on his fifth consecutive season on the Côte d’Azur. The fan favorite at Azur Arena won’t be the only “veteran.” Max Kouguere and Nianta Diarra have extended their stay for one more season, while Jonathan Tornato had signed for two seasons in July 2016. The pleasant surprise is the two-year signing of Jerel Blassingame, who had more than filled in during almost a month.
Size and shooters
To replace Bourdillon and Cordinier, the Antibes staff bet on two Americans familiar with European contests. Vincent Sanford arrives from Germany, a league known for its toughness. He will share the shooting guard position with Tyler Harvey, who comes from Italy. The former has a more defensive profile, while the latter is a true three-point sniper. On the small forward position, Paul Rigot did not have to travel far as he was playing last season in Monaco. Lanky and endowed with great physical abilities, he could be a revelation this season.
Chris Otule, the great find of 2016, has answered the calls from first-category clubs. This season, he will wear the jersey of… Strasbourg. After two US centers declined, the Antibes management reached an agreement with Mouphtaou Yarou, a former Le Mans player. The Beninese’s muscle mass could be decisive if he regains his past form (2015-2016).
“Manageable” schedule
Despite a challenging first day on paper, the Sharks will play again on Tuesday with an away game at Chalons-Reims, where they won last season. After that, Antibes has two manageable games on its schedule with a home game against Portel and a trip to the promoted Bourg-en-Bresse, potentially allowing for a 2-2 or better record after the first four days.
Since their return to ProA, the team from the Côte d’Azur has never beaten the Alsatians. Last season, Strasbourg won by nine points at home (72-81), and the same outcome occurred away with a 74-85 loss. During the pre-season, Antibes has a record of one win and seven losses, while Strasbourg has a positive record with six wins and four losses.
Photo credit: official site of Sharks Antibes
