Exceptional event, exceptional device. This Saturday June 1st was the final of the Coupe des Landes. For the occasion, France Bleu Gascogne was on site, in the Plumaçon arenas in Mont-de-Marsan, to make you experience this unforgettable evening. Which lasted more than five hours, until late in the evening. On the women’s side, it was ABC, Avenir Basket Chalosse who won. Among the men, Biscarrosse, led by Boris Diaw’s band, lifted the Guy Candau Cup.
The women’s final won by the ABC
The poster for the Christiane Carrère final. This year a 100% Chalosse derby between Élan Chalossais, in Nationale 3 and Avenir Basket Chalosse, in the upper division. Elan Chalossais has already won this Cup twice, in 2015 and 2018.
Elan Chalossais had a long lead over the ABC but the players in red and white almost managed to catch up at one point. And then, the Elk took off. Half-time score: 37-27 for Elan Chalossais. A match so bitter, tense, so contested, reflecting the challenge of lifting this trophy. In the second half, ABC managed to come back and even go ahead. Four minutes from the end, ABC leads by five points. Eventually, Avenir Basket Chalosse wins 61 to 51.
Lise Dussaut
The men’s final
The poster: a men’s final, so special this year with of course the BOB, the Biscarrosse club led by Boris Diaw and his gang . They are there and facing them, the best team this season in the Landes, ESMS. A duel at the top. The ESMS which has already been to the final several times without ever managing to win the Guy Candau Cup. They will have a lot to do with 49 points to catch up, the BOB playing in Departmental 3, the ESMS, seven divisions higher in Nationale 2.
The scoreboard reminds us, 49 points separate the two teams at kick-off. The ESMS scores baskets in a supercharged arena. The entire Biscarrosse team was whistled as they entered the field. Halftime, Biscarrosse leads 77 to 49. The delay seems impossible to catch up. And yet, the ESMS transcends itself at the end of the match. But the gap is too big. Biscarrosse wins 107 to 98.
A fiery atmosphere
Nearly 8,000 people in the arenas, many people outside to follow the matches from the giant screen specially installed in front of the statue of the bullfighter which faces the arenas. It’s a fiery atmosphere here. It’s boiling hot, the supporters are overflowing with imagination. Special mention to those of Elan Chalossais, one of the two women’s teams. They are armed with rolls of toilet paper, cow bells, city signs. In the supporters’ match, they won hands down against the Rouges de l’Avenir Basket Chalosse.
Amazing surprises
The departmental basketball committee announced this Saturday morning the passage of Rafales planes just above the arenas between the two finals. The departmental committee may have other surprises in store…
