The Caen TTC secured a comfortable 3-0 victory against Provins on Tuesday, September 29, winning a tricky Pro B table tennis fixture despite playing without Japanese player Yu Kayama.
Sohan Gilles Overcomes Maheidine Bella in Tight Five-Set Opener
The night began with a fiercely contested battle between Caen newcomer Sohan Gilles, ranked No. 73, and Provins player Maheidine Bella, ranked No. 147. Gilles started strong by capitalizing on early momentum and a favorable net touch to take the opening game 11-8.
Gilles raced ahead in the third game, jumping to a 4-0 lead before Bella clawed back. In the final set, Gilles regained the upper hand to close out the match 11-8, putting Caen ahead 1-0.
Adrien Coton Falls Short Against Andrea Landrieu After Squandering Game Points
The second match featured a notable Pro B debut for Provins player Adrien Coton, brother of Flavien Coton, who faced Caen’s Andrea Landrieu, ranked No. 45. Playing without hesitation, the young debutant captured the opening game convincingly before building a promising 10-6 lead in the second with four set points in hand.
Landrieu mounted a sharp recovery, erasing the deficit to steal the second game 13-11. That shift in momentum proved decisive. Landrieu used his experience to dictate the remainder of the contest, taking the third and fourth games 11-6 and 11-9 to double Caen’s overall lead to 2-0.
Stéphane Ouaiche Seals the Sweep Against Alessi Massart
With the tie hanging in the balance, Caen deployed star player Stéphane Ouaiche, ranked No. 37, against the offensive-minded Provins competitor Alessi Massart, ranked No. 155.
Ouaiche quickly adjusted his tactics to neutralize Massart’s attacks. The Caen veteran took control of the next three games, winning 11-5, 11-7, and 12-10 to secure the third point of the evening and complete the 3-0 sweep for the Norman club.
Caen Reflects on Avoiding a Potential Trap Match
Reflecting on the atmosphere and the challenge posed by their opponents, Caen newcomer Sohan Gilles noted the quality of the Provins squad after the final ball was struck. “In a great atmosphere, we came up against young players who were very brave,” Gilles said. “We were better on paper, and we knew how to make the hierarchy respected in a trap match. We are very happy with this victory.”
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