Missing out on the final, the “Étoiles du Sud” team—comprising Yves Sedrick Rakotoarisoa and Jean-François Daniel Rakotondrainibe, reinforced by Senegalese player N’Diaye Fara and Beninese player Marcel Gbetable—was eliminated in the semi-finals during the second stage of the Masters de Pétanque on Thursday in Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie.
The African selection, having won the first stage in Romans-sur-Isère on June 4, suffered a crushing 0-13 defeat against the team led by Nelson Zigler, Élie Benmergui, Maron Baudino, and Maison Durk. The team of Dylan Rocher, joined by Stéphane Robineau, Diego Rizzi, and Jean-Michel Puccinelli, secured victory in this second stage by defeating Team Zigler (13-8) in the final. Rocher’s squad had previously eliminated the reigning champion team of Mickaël Bonetto, Christophe Sarrio, Ludovic Montoro, and Yohan Cousin in the semi-finals (13-9).
Despite the semi-final exit, the Étoiles du Sud team retains the top spot in the standings with 18 points, ahead of Zigler and Rocher, who each have 17 points. Due to a red-level heatwave and a prefectural decree, the start of this second stage was postponed to June 25, whereas the group matches were originally scheduled for June 24. The third stage will take place on July 16 in Montluçon.
By Serge Rasanda
Captured & Published at: 2026-06-27 07:01:20 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/06/masters-de-petanque-yves-et-zigle_0351805509.html