• In the shock of the 16th day of Betclic Elite, Boulogne-Levallois beat Asvel (84-83) on Monday evening.

  • Eagerly awaited by the 2,800 spectators at the Marcel-Cerdan hall, Victor Wembanyama had a complicated match before delivering his team at the end of the match.

  • The future n°1 of the NBA Draft was well assisted by the leader Tremont Waters, MVP of the match.

And, just over three seconds from the end of the meeting, the Marcel-Cerdan room in Levallois-Perret (Hauts-de-Seine) exploded.

Of joy, of course, in order to celebrate the victory which was emerging for the locals against one of the competitors for the title, Asvel (84-83).

But mostly relief.

Yes, because, after a very complicated match, Victor Wembanyama arrived, finally with this monstrous tap which put the Mets in front, to do what everyone expected of him: dominate his opponent, attack the circle, make the crowd stand up … In short, to ignite a room which had come almost only for that.



“I absolutely wanted us to offer my son, who is an NBA fan, a place for a Mets game before Victor leaves for the United States, says Grégory (54), crossed in front of the hall for an hour and a half. before the start of the meeting.

It's the first time we've come here, even though we don't live far away.

Jonathan Givony comes from much further afield.

From New York, precisely.

Accompanied by a few colleagues of his, the ESPN reporter spent the week with the Mets for a report on the Wembanyama phenomenon.

I love this guy, the American journalist tells us, playful.

We were able to spend time with him and he is a really nice person.

We're lucky to have him in the Draft, he does things that no one has ever done.

Some ask if there aren't too many expectations around him, but he creates that expectation.

We'll be patient, but there's no reason he's not one of the best players in the NBA.

I would be very surprised if he didn't win MVP for a year.

»

“That match, at Bercy…”

Before the Draft, scheduled for the end of June, and the discovery of rooms like TD Garden in Boston or Madison Square Garden in New York, Victor Wembanyama still has to "fade" the season with Boulogne-Levallois, his room 2,800 seats, its speaker who shouts (too) loud and its kop of 30 supporters, including 20 children under 10 years old.

A friendly atmosphere, even if Vincent Collet, the coach of the Metropolitans 92, would have preferred another setting to welcome this poster against Asvel: “We were armored from armored.

We had to refuse 6,000 requests.

That match, at Bercy…”

Although entangled in the galleys linked to the Noël le Graët case, Amélie Oudéa-Castera was one of the privileged people who were able to attend the meeting.

The Minister of Sports even went for a walk in the locker room to congratulate the Mets after their victory.

“I presented her, especially to the Americans, so that they knew that she was the Minister of Sports, says Collet, laughing.

It would be surprising if she came for us, I think she was there for Victor.

She told the players that she enjoyed the show and that, although she was not a specialist, she had a blast.

»

Waters did not take on water

The one who regaled, in particular, was Tremonte Waters.

The American point guard for the Mets was the main gunner for his team, with 28 points and 7 assists.

Thanks to his lay-ups and his drives, he notably allowed his team, trailing by 8 points, to pick up the money time.

It is also he who is at the start of the action which brings the victorious tap from Victor Wembanyama, after the third offensive rebound.


THE VICTORY SNAP FOR VICTOR WEMBANYAMA AGAINST LDLC ASVEL, HIS FORMER CLUB 🚨🤯🤯🤯 #BetclicELITE #LNBextra @vicw_32 x @Metropolitans92 pic.twitter.com/ktLkvglbII

– LNB (@LNBofficiel) January 9, 2023

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This tap dunk therefore came to punctuate an inside match for the French giant, who found there the club he had left a few months ago, even if the stats sheet may suggest the opposite (15 points, 9 rebounds, 5 blocks).

Only two points, on a free throw, in the first quarter, a third period crossed like a ghost, penalizing fouls, a zero point at three points… The evening was frankly complicated for Wemby.

I liked the fact that he remains calm, commented Vincent Collet.

I found him to be patient and more helpful to the team than in recent games.

He has self-confidence and an ability to adapt.

He followed well and it shows him that when he is close to the circle, that's when he can dominate.

He must also progress in taking a position, which is not sufficiently clear in the racket.

»

"He didn't stop at what he could do"

It must be said that Asvel had prepared his move rather well.

Even if it often found itself with a size deficit, the defense of Villeurbanne, led by Yves Pons, who notably made VW his thing on an action, and Charles Kahudi, maneuvered perfectly in the face of the Wembanyama case.

And not many people expected that in the stands.

“I was a little disappointed with Victor's match, which was well defended by Pons, shyly regrets Clément (22), from Paris.

It's a bit for him that we came to see this match, so a little disappointed with what he did, even if he gave the victory tap.

Afterwards, it was still cool to see him and the goal is still for the team to win.

»

And to see the radiant face of Wembanyama at the end of the match, not stingy when signing autographs and taking pictures during the "Ovation Tour" (yes, a lap of honor, but that sounds visibly better in English), the main thing was there.

“He was very happy in the locker room and did not stop at what he could do, rejoiced Vincent Collet.

And I liked that.

“Even if, well, we agree, the one who is also coach of the France team would have preferred that his jewel put thirty.

No doubt it will happen very soon.

In Dijon, Sunday?

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  • Sport

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