ProB Round 33 (Regular Season): #1 Stade Rochelais are defeated by Nantes

There will be only one (last) round of the Regular Season in ProB. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most surprising game was another loss of top-ranked La Rochelle (27-6) at the home court on Friday night. Hosts were edged by fourteenth ranked Nantes (14-19) 76-75. American-Hungarian point guard Darrin Govens (185-1988, college: St.Joseph's) stepped up and scored 19 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists for the winners and naturalized Guinean Tidjan Keita (207-1996) chipped in 13 points and 10 rebounds. The best for the losing side was British forward Jubrile Belo (204-1998, college: Montana St.) with a double-double by scoring 21 points and 14 rebounds (on 7-of-8 shooting from the field). La Rochelle's coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Nantes moved-up to thirteenth place. Stade Rochelais at the other side still keeps top position with six games lost. Nantes are looking forward to face league's second-placed Vichy Clermont on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Stade Rochelais will play against EB Orthez in Pau and is hoping to win this game.
Very significant was EB Orthez's (#8) just 2-point road victory against 7th ranked Poitiers 80-78. Surinamese forward Gavin Kensmil (201-1998, college: SF Austin) nailed a double-double by scoring 12 points and 15 rebounds for the winning side and Dylan Affo Mama accounted for 14 points and 7 rebounds. Bosnian-Croatian Ivan Ramljak (203-1990, agency: PEPI SPORT) came up with 23 points and 5 rebounds for Poitiers in the defeat. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. EB Orthez (17-16) moved-up to seventh place. Newly promoted Poitiers dropped to the eighth position with 17 games lost. They share it with Antibes and ASA. EB Orthez will play against league's leader Stade Rochelais in La Rochelle in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Poitiers will play on the road against Evreux (#18) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Very important is a road loss of second ranked JA Vichy (24-9) against sixth ranked Chalons-Reims (19-14) on Friday night. Visiting JA Vichy was crushed by Chalons-Reims in Reims 100-77. The best player for the winners was David Skara who scored 16 points and 7 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was Cedric Bah who recorded 18 points and 7 rebounds. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Chalons-Reims have an impressive series of nine victories in a row. They moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Rouen. Loser JA Vichy keeps the second position with nine games lost. Chalons-Reims will meet Rouen (#5) on the road in the next round. Vichy Clermont will play against Nantes and hope to secure a win.

There were no shocking results in the rest of the games of round 33: Fos-sur-Mer destroyed Aix-Maurienne on the opponent's court 96-76. Angers unfortunately lost to Antibes in a home game 73-91. Evreux recorded a loss to ASA on the road 65-76. Orleans was defeated by Boulazac on its own court 74-90. Denain-Voltaire was beaten by St.Chamond in Saint Chamond 85-78. Rouen was destroyed by Lille at home 70-90. Vichy Clermont unfortunately lost to Boulazac on the opponent's court 70-74.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 19 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals by Angelo Warner of Boulazac.



Aix-Maurienne - Fos-sur-Mer 76-96

There was a minor upset in Aix-les-Bains where 14th ranked Aix-Maurienne (13-20) was crushed by sixteenth ranked Provence Basket (11-22) 96-76 on Friday. The best player for the winners was American point guard Jamar Diggs (190-1988, college: Wofford) who scored 26 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. His fellow American import point guard Robert Turner III (190-1993, college: Texas Tech) chipped in 26 points and 4 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was Kittitian-American swingman Shaun Willett (193-1996, college: Queens, NC) who recorded a double-double by scoring 21 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists and American guard KJ Jackson (187-1998, college: UMBC) added 12 points and 7 assists respectively. Five Fos-sur-Mer and four Aix-Maurienne players scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Fos-sur-Mer maintains sixteenth place with 11-22 record. Loser Aix-Maurienne keeps the fourteenth position with 20 games lost. They share it with Denain-Voltaire. Fos-sur-Mer will meet at home Angers (#17) in the next round. Aix-Maurienne will play against Orleans where they are definitely not considered as a favorite in this game either.
Top scorers:
Fos-sur-Mer: R.Turner III 26+4reb+4ast, J.Diggs 26+6reb+4ast, J.Etou 13+4reb, V.Vent 12+8reb, M.Markusson 12+7reb, M.Wojciechowski 5+4reb+5ast
Aix-Maurienne: S.Willett 21+11reb+4ast, K.Jackson 12+3reb+7ast, S.Kanoute 11+8reb+2ast, G.Noel 10+2reb+1ast, K.Ammour 7+8reb, J.Jose Garcia 4+3reb

Angers - Antibes 73-91

Very predictable result when tenth ranked Olympique Antibes (16-17) defeated on the road 16th ranked Etoile Angers (10-23) 91-73 on Friday. Antibes outrebounded Angers 46-23 including a 32-17 advantage in defensive rebounds. Antibes looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. The best player for the winners was American forward Garlon Green (201-1991, college: TCU, agency: Slash Sports) who scored 21 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists. Center Mathieu Boyer (207-1995) chipped in a double-double by scoring 14 points and 10 rebounds. Five Olympique Antibes players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was forward Quentin Ruel (202-1999, agency: Octagon Europe) who recorded 15 points and 7 rebounds and swingman Shawn Tanner (194-2001) added 18 points respectively. Olympique Antibes have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to eighth place, which they share with Poitiers and ASA. Loser Etoile Angers dropped to the seventeenth position with 23 games lost. They share it with Evreux. Antibes will meet at home higher ranked Boulazac (#3) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Angers will play against Fos-sur-Mer (#16) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Antibes: G.Green 21+9reb+5ast, Z.Perrin 16+9reb+2ast, M.Boyer 14+10reb+3ast, S.Gbetkom Bikantchou 14+3reb+3ast, B.Palo 11+3reb+2ast, M.Arthur 6+8reb+1ast
Angers: S.Tanner 18+1reb, Q.Ruel 15+7reb, S.Gauthier 9+3reb+3ast, B.Aurele 9+2ast, M.Hugo 8+4reb+2ast, T.Ghezala 4+1reb+6ast

Chalons-Reims - Vichy Clermont 100-77

Very important is a road loss of second ranked JA Vichy (24-9) against sixth ranked Chalons-Reims (19-14) on Friday night. Visiting JA Vichy was crushed by Chalons-Reims in Reims 100-77. Chalons-Reims made 23-of-25 free shots (92.0 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 32 assists comparing to just 18 passes made by Vichy Clermont's players. The best player for the winners was Croatian forward David Skara (203-1995, college: Clemson) who scored 16 points and 7 rebounds. Forward Florian Leopold (204-2000) chipped in 16 points and 7 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was naturalized Ivorian Cedric Bah (200-1994) who recorded 18 points and 7 rebounds and naturalized Ivorian point guard Assemian Moulare (183-2003) added 14 points respectively. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Chalons-Reims have an impressive series of nine victories in a row. They moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Rouen. Loser JA Vichy keeps the second position with nine games lost. Chalons-Reims will meet Rouen (#5) on the road in the next round. Vichy Clermont will play against Nantes and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Chalons-Reims: J.Dally 20+1reb+1ast, F.Leopold 16+7reb, D.Skara 16+7reb, B.Tchouaffe 14+3reb+2ast, G.Paumier 8+7reb+1ast, M.Keita 8+2reb+8ast
Vichy Clermont: C.Bah 18+7reb+2ast, M.Assemian 14+3reb+3ast, M.Ertel II 12+2reb+1ast, K.Ilias 11+3reb+3ast, G.Mamadou 7+4reb+2ast, I.Djambo 7+3reb+1ast

ASA - Evreux 76-65

Not a big story in a game in Gries where 17th ranked ALM Evreux (10-23) was defeated by ninth ranked ASA (16-17) 76-65 on Friday. ASA made 18-of-23 free shots (78.3 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. The best player for the winners was forward Carl Ponsar (203-1997) who scored 14 points and 9 rebounds. Center Yvann MBaya (209-2001) chipped in 13 points and 5 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was Canadian-Moroccan guard Yasiin Joseph (186-1996, college: Carleton) who recorded a double-double by scoring 10 points and 10 assists and American power forward Jeremiah Wood (200-1985) added 11 points and 7 rebounds respectively. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. ASA moved-up to eighth place, which they share with Antibes and Poitiers. Evreux lost their fourth game in a row. They dropped to the bottom position with 23 games lost. They share it with Angers. ASA will meet Denain-Voltaire (#14) on the road in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Evreux will play against Poitiers (#9) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
ASA: C.Ponsar 14+9reb+3ast, Y.MBaya 13+5reb+1ast, C.Mounce 11+4reb, Y.Choupas 9+4reb+3ast, C.Nwogbo 7+7reb+2ast, L.Ca 6+2reb+3ast
Evreux: S.Raharimanantoanina 11+4reb+1ast, J.Wood 11+7reb+1ast, Y.Joseph 10+2reb+10ast, P.Romain 8+3reb+1ast, P.Rigot 8+1reb+2ast, A.Vrabac 6+6reb+5ast

Stade Rochelais - Nantes 75-76

The most surprising game was another loss of top-ranked La Rochelle (27-6) at the home court on Friday night. Hosts were edged by fourteenth ranked Nantes (14-19) 76-75. American-Hungarian point guard Darrin Govens (185-1988, college: St.Joseph's) stepped up and scored 19 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists for the winners and naturalized Guinean Tidjan Keita (207-1996) chipped in 13 points and 10 rebounds. The best for the losing side was British forward Jubrile Belo (204-1998, college: Montana St.) with a double-double by scoring 21 points and 14 rebounds (on 7-of-8 shooting from the field) and Swedish Johan Lofberg (199-1995) scored 21 points and 5 rebounds. La Rochelle's coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Nantes moved-up to thirteenth place. Stade Rochelais at the other side still keeps top position with six games lost. Nantes are looking forward to face league's second-placed Vichy Clermont on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Stade Rochelais will play against EB Orthez in Pau and is hoping to win this game.
Top scorers:
Nantes: D.Govens 19+7reb+5ast, B.Nze 18+5reb+1ast, T.Keita 13+10reb+1ast, M.Legat 8+3reb+2ast, C.Lutete 7+2reb+1ast, G.Harvey 6+3reb+6ast
Stade Rochelais: J.Belo 21+14reb+2ast, J.Lofberg 21+5reb+2ast, G.Clerc 16+1reb+1ast, V.Diallo 5+1ast, T.Buchanan 5+3reb+1ast, B.Boris 3

Orleans - Boulazac 74-90

The game between closely ranked teams ended with third ranked Boulazac Basket's (22-11) road victory over 4th placed Entente Orleans 45 (20-13) 90-74 on Saturday. Boulazac outrebounded Orleans 37-23 including 25 on the defensive glass. Boulazac looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. The best player for the winners was power forward Jean-Marc Pansa (209-1997) who had a double-double by scoring 16 points and 11 rebounds. Guyanese forward Youri Golitin (202-1997) chipped in 17 points. At the other side the best for losing team was Jamaican-Canadian guard Stefan Smith (187-1999, college: St.John's, agency: Players Group) who recorded 18 points and 4 assists (went 9 for 9 at the free throw line !!!) and American-Trinidad and Tobago point guard Terrell Gomez (173-1998, college: SDSU) added 15 points respectively. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. The victory was the third consecutive win for Boulazac Basket. They maintain third place with 22-11 record having five points less than leader Stade Rochelais. Loser Entente Orleans 45 keeps the fourth position with 13 games lost. Boulazac will meet Antibes (#10) on the road in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Orleans will play against Aix-Maurienne (#15) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Boulazac: A.Vincent 18+4reb, Y.Golitin 17+3reb+3ast, J.Pansa 16+11reb+2ast, A.Warner 15+2reb+2ast, D.Adel 7+4reb+3ast, H.Robineau 6+2reb+8ast
Orleans: S.Smith 18+4reb+4ast, T.Gomez 15+1reb+2ast, R.Morency 11+4reb+1ast, G.Marcus 11+1ast, L.Negrobar 6+3reb+1ast, L.Thirouard-Samson 5+2reb+3ast

St.Chamond - Denain-Voltaire 85-78

There was no surprise when 14th ranked Denain Voltaire (13-20) was defeated on the road by twelfth ranked Saint Chamond (15-18) 85-78 on Friday. St.Chamond looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. The best player for the winners was center Badr Moujib (207-2001) who scored 21 points and 6 rebounds (on 9-of-11 shooting from the field). Guard Theo Magrit (189-2001) chipped in 10 points and 7 assists. Four Saint Chamond players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was American power forward Zena Edosomwan (206-1993, college: Harvard, agency: Diamond Sports) who recorded 11 points and 9 rebounds and swingman Neftali Difuidi-Walokwa (193-2001) added 17 points and 5 rebounds respectively. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. St.Chamond moved-up to eleventh place, which they share with Lille. Loser Denain Voltaire keeps the fourteenth position with 20 games lost. They share it with Aix-Maurienne. St.Chamond will meet Lille (#12) on the road in the next round. Denain-Voltaire will play against ASA and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
St.Chamond: M.Badr 21+6reb+1ast, M.Hamon-Crespin 15+2reb+3ast, M.Addison 13+4reb+2ast, M.Theo 10+3reb+7ast, M.Guichard 9+1reb+3ast, A.Vrankovic 7+2reb
Denain-Voltaire: D.Neftali 17+5reb, Z.Edosomwan 11+9reb+2ast, L.Phillip 9+3reb, G.Payen-Boucard 8+4reb, J.Tchicamboud 8+1reb+6ast, Z.Ayoub 7+3ast

Rouen - Lille 70-90

There was a surprise result when twelfth ranked Lille Metropole (15-18) outleveled on the road higher ranked SPO Rouen (19-14) 90-70 on Friday. Lille shot 61.8 percent from the field. They shot the lights out from three sinking 16 long-distance shots on high 55.2 percentage. Lille looked well-organized offensively handing out 28 assists comparing to just 15 passes made by Rouen's players. The best player for the winners was American-Cape Verdean forward Marcus Santos-Silva (202-1997, college: Texas Tech) who scored 19 points and 9 rebounds. Spanish guard Marcos Suka-Umu (193-1985) chipped in 14 points and 7 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was guard Clarence Nadolny (191-2000, college: Texas Tech) who recorded 22 points and 7 rebounds and American point guard Akaemji Williams (175-1996, college: LSSU) added 11 points and 4 steals respectively. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Lille moved-up to eleventh place, which they share with St.Chamond. Rouen lost their third game in a row. Newly promoted team keeps the fifth position with 14 games lost. They share it with Chalons-Reims. Lille will meet at home St.Chamond (#11) in the next round. Rouen will play against Chalons-Reims (#6) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Lille: M.Santos-Silva 19+9reb+1ast, M.Suka-Umu 14+4reb+7ast, L.Marc-Olivier 11+2reb+1ast, D.Halvin 9+1reb, L.Loubaki 9+1reb+2ast, C.Eyenga 9+4reb+2ast
Rouen: C.Nadolny 22+7reb+2ast, A.Williams 11+1reb+3ast, M.Yasmin 8+5reb+1ast, C.Galliou 7+1reb, K.Gourari 6+1reb+5ast, W.Mensah 4+1reb+2ast

Poitiers - EB Orthez 78-80

Very significant was EB Orthez's (#8) just 2-point road victory against 7th ranked Poitiers 80-78. Surinamese forward Gavin Kensmil (201-1998, college: SF Austin) nailed a double-double by scoring 12 points and 15 rebounds for the winning side and forward Dylan Affo Mama (196-1999) accounted for 14 points and 7 rebounds. Bosnian-Croatian Ivan Ramljak (203-1990, agency: PEPI SPORT) came up with 23 points and 5 rebounds and Jamaican Kentan Facey (206-1993, college: UConn) added 16 points and 10 rebounds respectively for Poitiers in the defeat. Five Pau-Lacq-Orthez and four Poitiers players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. EB Orthez (17-16) moved-up to seventh place. Newly promoted Poitiers dropped to the eighth position with 17 games lost. They share it with Antibes and ASA. EB Orthez will play against league's leader Stade Rochelais in La Rochelle in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Poitiers will play on the road against Evreux (#18) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
EB Orthez: M.Oguine 15+3ast, D.Affo Mama 14+7reb, L.Sane 13+4reb+1ast, J.Masters 13+2reb+2ast, G.Kensmil 12+15reb, G.Curier 8+4reb
Poitiers: I.Ramljak 23+5reb+3ast, J.Jeanne 17+8reb, K.Facey 16+10reb, L.Rupnik 14+1reb+2ast, D.Mohamed 5+5reb+2ast, P.Imanol 2+1ast

Boulazac - Vichy Clermont 74-70

We cannot really consider it an upset in the game between close teams when second-best JA Vichy (24-9) was defeated on the road by third ranked Boulazac Basket (22-11) 74-70 on Tuesday. The best player for the winners was American point guard Angelo Warner (188-1992, college: Morehead St.) who scored 19 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals (perfect behind the arc making all six shots !!!). Sudanese-Australian forward Deng Adel (201-1997, college: Louisville) chipped in 14 points and 5 rebounds. Five Boulazac Basket players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was American guard Mike Ertel II (187-1999, college: UAB) who recorded 16 points and Lucas Dufeal (204-2003) added 10 points respectively. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. The victory was the third consecutive win for Boulazac Basket. They maintain third place with 22-11 record having five points less than leader Stade Rochelais. Loser JA Vichy keeps the second position with nine games lost. Boulazac will meet Antibes (#10) on the road in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Vichy Clermont will play against Nantes (#13) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Boulazac: A.Warner 19+5reb+7ast, D.Adel 14+5reb+3ast, A.Vincent 11+2reb+2ast, H.Robineau 11+5reb+1ast, J.Pansa 11+8reb, C.Cavallo 4+1reb+2ast
Vichy Clermont: M.Ertel II 16+1reb, M.Assemian 10+5reb, D.Lucas 10+4reb+2ast, S.Cape 8+4ast, K.Ilias 7+1reb+1ast, G.Mamadou 7+3reb