Who can stop Antibes? Not Hyères-Toulon, which this Tuesday evening became the eighth consecutive victim of the Sharks in Pro B (64-76). Not this HTV, in any case, too limited to compete for 40 minutes with a top team. However, he gave the illusion of it, by leading or remaining in contact for more than thirty minutes, in particular thanks to his defense (37-37, 24th). But the promoted team cracked for good after a brick from Sackey, punished by the school action concluded behind the arc by Gbetkom (47-57, 33rd).
“We no longer have gas”sighed Jean-Louis Borg, while his team, diminished, played two matches per week. The Var coach explains “this state of general fatigue: there are two new players who have not done any preparation (Sackey and Moore) and cannot be fresh over time. And the whole group has lacked rotation in recent weeks. station 5 (N'Diaye) has still not arrived and we have been shooting with three interiors for a month.”
Address at half mast
Thus, against Antibes, the interior sector faltered, even if the defense under the circle left HTV in the game for a long time. The Pouaveyoun-Losser-Greenwood trio (20 pts – 15 rebounds anyway) thus ended up on the knees. And then the skill was not there (37% shooting, including 6/24 at 3 pts), like the 0/12 shooting for the Sackey – Eugene duo. The only bright spots are the very good passages from Théo Lefebvre, or Mathis Keita. Rookie winger Zeke Moore had another good outing. Top scorer of the evening (16 pts), however, he also gradually faded away. “Antibes had resources and found skill in key moments, when we were foundering. Talent made the difference”noted Borg.
Talent? And experience, like a very complete Antoine Eïto (7 pts, 8 assists, 6 rebounds for 17 evaluation). A precious Bubu Palo (13 pts in 14min), an Abdoulaye Loum at the level (9 pts, 7 rebounds), a killer Samir Gbetkom (10 pts, 5 assists) or a Shekinah Munanga clutch (eleven of his fifteen points in the 4th act).
Put it back on Friday
“We arrived here with the idea of not having to endure, of not being dominated by the commitment. I didn't want Calimero in my team, it was only me who had to shout, asked Sharks coach JD Jackson. We finished with 21 passes and 8 lost balls in an evening of clumsiness (44% shooting including 8/28 at 3 pts), that's what makes the difference. We managed to force them to make mistakes. And we were full for 40 minutes.”
Everything that this HTV is missing. However, we will quickly have to find resources, since the Var team is preparing to receive another big name from the group this Friday: Boulazac… who did not play this Tuesday. “It’s going to be complicated. When we see how tired we are, what will we be like in three days?”questions Jean-Louis Borg. Only his players have the answer. Physiotherapists have work to do.
