By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Not the most ideal premiere for the reigning champs in the French Pro A. Villeurbanne was stunned at home by Monaco that played a splendid offensive game to begin the new season with a blast.
The Monegasques are among the favorites to win the title and showed their… wild intentions right from the start, by not only defeating but absolutely dominating against their opponents.
In Le Mans, the local team downed Strasbourg, last season’s finalists, with key plays down the stretch. Coach Collet’s team was ahead in the score by 4, 64 – 68, with less than three minutes to go but Wilfried Yeguete took action and along with a huge 3-pointer by Olivier Hanlan (ex Zalgiris Kaunas), granted victory to the hosts.
The day closed with Limoges accomplishing a big comeback to beat Dijon. They were trailing by 14 points, 35 – 49 in the mid of the third quarter, but rallied to smile in the end.
During the game, team legend Ed Murphy was honored by Limoges with his jersey being retired and lifted on the sky of “Beaublanc”. Murphy had won the back to back (1982, 1983) Korac Cup titles with Limoges in the 80s, along with three French league and three French Cup titles.
Video by @MatthieuMarot7
Pro A 2016/2017 – Day 1
Le Portel – Nanterre (Chris Warren 25 p. 9 r.) : 65 – 84
Hyeres Toulon (Ryan Evans 11 p. 12 r.) – Gravelines Dunkerque: 75 – 62
Paris Levallois (Jason Rich 21 p. 6 r. 5 a.) – Nancy: 75 – 67
Villeurbanne – Monaco (Jamal Shuler 23 p. 4 a.): 74 – 90
Chalons Reims – Antibes (Tim Blue 16 p. 7 r. 7 a.) : 77 – 92
Pau Orthez (DJ Cooper 20 p. 12 a. 7 r.) – Cholet: 81 – 79
Chalon/Saone (Lance Harris 19 p.) – Orleans: 87 – 67
Le Mans (Ryan Pearson 17 p.) – Strasbourg: 73 – 71
Limoges (Ousmane Camara 17 p. 9 r.) – Dijon: 75 – 70