Villeurbanne (AFP)
Beaten after extra time with great regret on Tuesday by Olympiakos Piraeus (101-93), Asvel Lyon-Villeurbanne reacted well by winning Thursday in their room at the Astroballe at the expense of the Spanish club Valencia (90 -77) for the 21st day of the Euroleague.
With this seventh victory for fourteen defeats, Asvel remains 17th in the standings, far from the Top 8 and play-off places.
For its part, the Valencian club, which has never won at Villeurbanne since 2003 (6-0), loses for the tenth time this season (11 wins) but remains in the race for qualification (10th).
The Villeurbanne, despite a shy start, built their victory on defensive rigor against the 4th best attack in the Euroleague led by the duo Nikola Kalinic (18 points) - Derrick Williams (11 pts).
With the returns of Moustapha Fall ill on Tuesday and especially Derrick Walton Jr (10 points), arrived in January and not qualified against Olympiakos, they left no offensive rebound to their opponents during the first half concluded on a score in their favor of 40-34.
However, Villeurbanne, who lost only 12 balls, almost let the match escape him by conceding an 11-0 (3 shots at 3 points in a row and 2 free throws) at the start of the 3rd quarter as Asvel nevertheless won (21-20) to lead 61-54 with ten minutes remaining.
TJ Parker's men, in the wake of William Howard (17 points), who seems to have turned a corner, or even Guerschon Yabusele (12 pts) and David Lighty (10 pts) then increased their lead to +19 (79-60 , 35th) reduced to +12 after a 7-0 for Valence (37th) then to +8 (81-73, 39th).
But unlike the meeting against Olympiakos, the Villeurbanne who circulated the ball well (17 assists) managed this time to contain the reaction of their opponents.
On Wednesday, Asvel will host Baskonia Vitoria, another Spanish club.
© 2021 AFP