Paris (AFP)
Convincing in front of his public, Asvel is still empty-handed outside in Euroleague after his third defeat in three games in Valencia, 81 to 72, Friday.
The opportunity seemed good, however, and the Valencians were the only team to have lost their first five games, including two in their room. The Villeurbannais remained them on a nice success Tuesday on another Spanish club, Vitoria, the third in three games at the Astroballe.
In front of Valencia, the team of the French Louis Labeyrie (4 points), who obtained his place in Euroleague by winning the Eurocoupe (C2) last season, Asvel has yielded in the last quarter.
The French champions have eased the pressure in defense and had trouble mastering the excellent Spanish leader Quino Colom. They were mostly too clumsy at three points (8 of 26).
For 30 minutes, the Villeurbannais were matched thanks to Livio Jean-Charles (20 points), very effective inside, and Antoine Diot (17 points, 6 assists), who still played in Valencia last season and was very applauded at the time of the presentation of the teams.
Perhaps they did a bit of a physical blow, as they played their fourth game in eight days, with no American interior player, Adreian Payne, and young leader Théo Maledon, injured. However, they will have to start Sunday at home against Chalon-sur-Saone in the Championship.
© 2019 AFP