The way of the cross continues for ASVEL, beaten Thursday evening for the eighth time in a row in the Euroleague. The Villeurbannais, now penultimate, this time lost at home (86-82) against the Greeks of Panathinaikos, who made the difference in the second quarter.
There are roller coasters that make you euphoric. The one in which ASVEL got involved on Thursday evening is not one of them. On the contrary, it would tend to make you feel nauseous, even dizzy. At home against Panathinaikos, the Villeurbannais recorded their eighth defeat (86-82) in the Euroleague. Admittedly, the players of TJ Parker have known for a while that they have nothing more to expect from the end of the season on the European level. However, ASVEL has started a way of the cross which does not give the impression of wanting to stop anytime soon.
And the last place is slowly looming for our representative, who could still dream not so long ago of grabbing the Top 8. Today, if the eighth in the ranking has seven more victories than the triple champions of France, the red lantern, still in possession of Alba Berlin, is only holding on to a defeat. Perhaps as soon as the next setback for ASVEL, which will host Maccabi Tel Aviv on March 23. Especially if Tony Parker’s proteges continue to show such inconstancy.
A fatal second quarter
Two days after spanking Boulogne-Levallois and the phenomenon Victor Wembanyama in the league, the Rhodaniens, thanks as so often this season to Youssoupha Fall (13 points-12 rebounds) and the inevitable Nando De Colo (12 points, 7 assists), without whom the shipwreck would not have been far once again, indeed stood up to the Greeks and the former Monegasque Dwayne Bacon (13 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists), who had obviously been deprived since his very drunk Sunday outing alongside his former partner in the Principality Mike James.
Unfortunately, they only did so for three quarters, and the only one where the locals gave up, namely the second (32-17 for an insolent Pana of efficiency in this period: 73.7% at shots) was enough to turn this meeting upside down. ASVEL came back on the heels of their opponent at the end of the match, but without managing to register these few baskets in the money time which would have made it possible to stop this bleeding a little more pronounced with each match.
