The Nantes Basket Hermine opened its Elite 2 campaign with an 81-73 defeat against Antibes on the road, undone by defensive inconsistencies and a decisive late-game surge from the hosts. Rémy Valin’s squad held leads during a back-and-forth contest at Azur Arena Antibes, but ultimately faltered during the closing minutes as the home side secured the victory.
A Game of Momentum Swings
Friday night’s fixture pitted a reconstructed Antibes side—which overhauled 80 percent of its roster during the summer—against a Nantes outfit carrying high ambitions into the new season. The visitors started brightly, establishing an early 17-6 lead inside the opening five minutes. Playing without injured big man Massalski, Nantes relied on a fast start to showcase its anticipated offensive firepower.
Antibes gradually worked its way back into the contest. Defensive lapses in transition hurt Nantes as the match progressed, allowing the hosts to seize a 46-41 halftime advantage following a 9-0 run.
Missed Opportunities Down the Stretch
The momentum shifted again immediately after the interval. Nantes engineered a 12-0 run of its own, surging ahead 60-50 midway through the third quarter. Captain Hugo Mienandi acknowledged during the week that defensive inconsistency remained a hurdle for the squad, and those defensive frailties surfaced again in the second half.
Despite struggling from the free-throw line—finishing 19 of 29 overall—Antibes tightened its defensive pressure in the final minutes. Clinging to a narrow lead at 68-65 in the 36th minute, the hosts rattled off an 11-0 run that pushed the margin to 79-68 by the 38th minute, effectively sealing the outcome despite late misses from the charity stripe by Nantes players Gassaud and Van Eyck.
Box Score and Individual Performances
Williams paced the victorious Sharks with 22 points, while Castlin and Sakic each added 13 points. Tchouaffé contributed 12 points, Golitin chipped in 10, and Parmentelot scored 9 in the win.
For Nantes, Masters led the scoring effort with 15 points. Gassaud added 14 points, Mienandi and Davis finished with 11 points apiece, Bourhis scored 7, Van Eyck had 6, Manerlax added 5, and both Gomis and Mouhri contributed 2 points each.
Looking Ahead to the Home Opener
While the defeat halts the momentum built during a promising preseason, personnel adjustments and a demanding league schedule mean there is no room for panic within the Nantes camp. Valin and his players will look to rebound and secure their first victory of the campaign next Friday when they return home to face Quimper at La Trocardière.
