At the opening of the Betclic Elite play-offs, ASVEL held their rank against Le Mans just like Boulogne-Levallois when they received Cholet. Dijon, for its part, fell on its floor against Bourg-en-Bresse.
ASVEL begins the defense of its title with a very clear success. During the reception at Le Mans, the three-time French champion delighted the Astroballe audience with a controlled encounter from start to finish. Indeed, the Sarthois were only able to lead in the score 19 seconds at the very beginning of the match after the opener of Abdoulaye Ndoye (12 points). The Villeurbannais responded with a 10-0 led by Youssoupha Fall (18 points, 6 rebounds) which set the tone. If the MSB got closer to four points at the end of the first quarter, ASVEL took off in the game of free throws.
An ascendant which was built a little more during the ten minutes leading up to the break, which allowed TJ Parker’s players to exceed the ten-point lead and not go below until the return to the locker room . ASVEL was then able to count on a fifteen-point lead before controlling the events during the ten minutes that followed the resumption. The end of the match was one-sided for the Villeurbannais who won by 30 lengths (103-73) and will be able to validate their place in the semi-finals this Tuesday.
Boulogne-Levallois all in peace
Boulogne-Levallois also started the play-offs with a success at home. Opposed to Cholet, the Mets have very rarely doubted in front of their public. Indeed, if the Choletais were able to erase a delay of seven points to take the lead for the first time at the end of the first quarter, Victor Wembanyama (22 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists) and his teammates replied to come back in front of six points after ten minutes. An advantage that the Ile-de-France residents took advantage of at the start of the second quarter but without ever managing to go beyond a twelve-point lead.
These are the Choletais took advantage to get closer to nine units at the break before starting the third quarter ideally. Indeed, Boris Dallo’s teammates (18 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists) took advantage of the Mets’ difficulties to go back in front… but they provoked the reaction of their opponents. More solid in defense with a single point conceded until the end of the third quarter, the Mets inflicted a 12-1 on Cholet to start the last ten minutes with a ten-point lead. A final quarter that Vincent Collet’s players managed perfectly to win by thirteen lengths (93-80).
Dijon disillusioned at home
Fourth in the regular season, Dijon did not start the play-offs in the best possible way. Indeed, the JDA conceded a narrow defeat on its floor during the reception of Bourg-en-Bresse. The first quarter saw the two teams surrender blow for blow but, thanks to a final shot from three points, it was the Dijonnais who took the lead on the scoreboard by two lengths. If Markis McDuffie (14 points) and his teammates continued to race in the lead for most of the ten minutes leading up to halftime, the Burgundian threat was never ruled out.
With only six points behind, JL Bourg had everything to play for but that did not materialize during a third quarter which saw the gap contained below the eight-length lead. A 12-0 at the start of the last ten minutes allowed the teammates of a great day Jordan Floyd (27 points) to take the lead and never let go. It is with a margin of six points that Bourg-en-Bresse won in Dijon (73-79) and offered the opportunity to reach the last four in front of their home crowd.
BASKET – BETCLIC ELITE / PLAY-OFFS
Quarter-finals – Game 1
Sunday, May 21, 2023
Dijon (4) – Bourg-en-Bresse (5) : 73-79
Boulogne-Levallois (2) – Cholet (7): 93-80
ASVEL (3) – Le Mans (6): 103-73
Wednesday, May 23, 2023
8:00 p.m.: Monaco (1) – Strasbourg (8)
