Villeurbanne (AFP)
After four victories, Villeurbanne was beaten in front of his public for the first time of the season in Euroleague by Efes Istanbul, 90 to 84, Tuesday at Astroballe.
ASVEL had multiplied the exploits in his room, the most resounding dating from ten days ago against the defending champion, CSKA Moscow. But against the runner-up, the Villeurbaneans were a bit short.
The French champions remained in the game until the start of the last quarter (+1 to 8 minutes from the end) thanks to Livio Jean-Charles (12 points) and Theo Maledon (10 points, 7 assists) , before cracking in the "money time".
Villeurbanne has a positive record (5 wins, 4 losses), two lengths of Efes, before receiving on Friday the other club Istanbul, Fenerbahçe, European Champion 2017.
ASVEL players came out of a particularly trying week. After their exploit against Moscow, they had made a return trip to Texas to attend the ceremony of withdrawal of the shirt of their boss Tony Parker in San Antonio. This express trip did not prevent them from winning for the first time of the season outside Friday in Belgrade against the Red Star (74-72).
Against Efes, one of the strongest teams in Europe offensively with players like American Shane Larkin (19 points), Serbian Vasilije Micic (16 points) and Frenchman Rodrigue Beaubois (16 points), the Villeurbaneans have was wrong to be dragged into an attack match.
"Asvel have a very good start to the season, we took them very seriously, we are a very aggressive team and we are very aggressive and we knew we should not be led in a semi-final match. field because ASVEL defends very well and we managed it ", commented Beaubois at the microphone of RMC Sports. Efes' other Frenchman, Adrien Moerman, was absent due to injury.
Unlike the Efes, which is part of the leading group with 7 wins, Fenerbahçe is in trouble since the beginning of the season (2 wins, 6 losses). The Turkish club will be deprived of its two Frenchmen Nando De Colo and Leo Westermann, wounded.
© 2019 AFP