Despite another huge game from Victor Wembanyama for the Mets, ASVEL ended four straight defeats against Boulogne-Levallois (72-65), Friday night in Saint-Chamond in the Leaders Cup. The players of TJ Parker, who have never won this competition before, will face Le Mans on Saturday in the semi-finals.
The shock of the quarter-finals of this Leaders Cup back after two years of absence has kept all its promises. And ASVEL was able to take advantage of having on the floor, Friday in Saint-Chamond (Loire), a Boulogne-Levallois team deprived of many players to finally put an end to its series of defeats against the Mets. Before raising their heads on Friday evening by winning, admittedly in pain, with a score of 72-65 against Victor Wembanyama and the decimated Metropolitans, the Villeurbannais indeed remained on four defeats in a row against the Ile-de-France residents.
It was therefore high time to react for the triple champions of France, and they were able to do so for their debut in this new edition of this event which has never succeeded for them. But you should never say never and who knows, maybe this 2023 Leaders Cup will finally see ASVEL put its name on the list. On what TJ Parker’s players showed on Friday evening, they should not be far from lifting the trophy for the first time in their history, especially since the Rhodaniens will not have an opponent of the caliber of Wembanyama in each match. to bypass. Without the new XXL performance (29 points, 16 rebounds, 3 against, 29 evaluation) of their superstar, the Mets would probably have quickly sunk against Villeurbannais who had quickly distanced themselves (25-17 in the first quarter- time).
NANDO. IN. LAP. 🙅♂️🙅♂️🙅♂️
IT’S ART 🖼#LeadersCup @NandoDeColo x @LDLCASVEL pic.twitter.com/gLdOV8EDMf
— LNB (@LNBofficiel) February 17, 2023
ASVEL maintains the distance at three points
😤 A Champion always answers present!@LDLCASVEL takes revenge against @Metropolitans92 and will face Le Mans in the 1/2 final of the #LeadersCup this Saturday at 9 p.m. on @lachainelequipe 🍿 pic.twitter.com/HjiR950KoR
— LNB (@LNBofficiel) February 17, 2023
Moreover, when, at the very end of the match, “Wemby”, victim of a slight crutch, had to abandon his family, ASVEL immediately took off again. The future NBA player quickly returned to the court, but this time without managing to fill the gap that a gala Nando De Colo had again created (18 points to 4 of 9 at three points, 5 assists) and his own. Vincent Collet’s players have managed to come back several times on the heels of ASVEL but without managing to do better, while the Villeurbannais, they have been able to register the shots (long distance most of the time ) which allowed them to stay in front.
In this game, De Colo but also Jonah Mathews (10 points) and Dee Bost (11 points) showed themselves to be of precious skill. It was necessary for this team still in search of its first Leaders Cup (it had not previously won the Tournament of Aces or the Week of Aces) to stop the black series against the Mets. Place at Le Mans (winner of Cholet 84-77) now for ASVEL, Saturday in the semi-finals. History may be in motion for Tony Parker’s proteges, moreover rid of the other representative in Euroleague Monaco, surprised at the start by Bourg-en-Bresse.
