Villeurbanne (AFP)

Panathinaikos after Olympiakos! A week after his victorious return to Euroleague, Villeurbanne scored a second feat by offering a new big Greek club, 79 to 78, Thursday at the Astroballe.

ASVEL managed a magnificent recovery in the last quarter after being led by thirteen points. The performance is important because the Panathinaikos, six times European champion (the last time in 2011), remains a big continental caliber, even if it has retreated a little in recent years in the hierarchy (his last Final Four date of 2012 ).

Villeurbanne held the shock almost until half-time (38-38) but conceded a 17-4 straddling between the second and third quarter which he could not have put back. This is his address found three points (5 of 7 late in the game) and his defensive efforts that have put back in the saddle.

"We did a great game, we did not let go, we fought with our weapons, with our aggression, we put the important shots at the end, it shows our confidence," said the microphone RMC Sports leader Antoine Diot, one of the great recruits of the offseason, who does not want to ignite. "It's great, but it's only the second game of Euroleague."

The experience of the "Pana", which plays its 22nd season in a row in Euroleague, was incomparable, and yet it was the Villeurbanne who were the strongest in the "money time". ASVEL came back just 53 seconds from the end on a three-pointer by Charles Kahudi. Then it was the American leader Jordan Taylor who scored the free throw of the victory at 14 seconds of the siren. Greek-American leader Nick Calathes scrambled the last ball.

"It's the heart that paid in the end, we did not give in mentally," Livio Jean-Charles said.

The American David Lighty was the best scorer of ASVEL with 18 points. The new Nigerian pivot Tonye Jekiri has once again shot a big job under circles with a double double (15 points, 12 rebounds).

Against all odds, the club of President Tony Parker, who did not see win many matches in this year of rediscovery of the Euroleague, is at the top of the ranking.

After winning two home games in a packed Astroballe, the French champions will have to prove their ability to travel for the next two days, in Germany against Bayern Munich and in Lithuania against Kaunas.

© 2019 AFP