While Monaco will challenge Bourg-en-Bresse in the semi-final of the Betclic Elite, starting tomorrow, it was already time for Game 1 of the other semi-final between Boulogne-Levallois and Asvel.
A first match won (75-69) by Vincent Collet’s troops. Under the eyes of Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, the Mets 92 thus mastered a Villeurbannaise team which had a hard time setting up its game without Nando De Colo, calf hit and therefore forfeited for the meeting.
Boulogne-Levallois has thus gradually widened the gap, thanks to the clumsiness and the loss of ball of the troop of TJ Parker. Asvel still pushed to attempt the hold-up, while the Mets 92 became distracted and in turn committed avoidable ball losses. But the visitors never reversed the momentum.
And Lahaou Konaté managed a final 3-pointer that put an end to the hopes of David Lighty and company.
Best assessment of the meeting (24) with 19 points at 8/18 shooting including 2/6 from afar, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, 3 interceptions but 5 stray bullets, Victor Wembanyama first had a little struggling to position themselves in the face of opposing movements, before succeeding in a few striking actions, including an ultra-complicated turnaround.
“It’s a good victory”explained Vincent Collet at the microphone of France 3 Regions, taken over by BeBasket. “We were very serious and we achieved what we wanted to do. It was necessary because Villeurbanne has a hardness in the game that we do not have. However, we have risen in this area. In the meantime, it’s just a victory. We must take advantage of the absence of Nando De Colo. He weighs a lot on his team’s game and he will come back. Everyone dreams of this final in apotheosis but we must keep our feet on the ground. This group is very good, we enjoy ourselves but ASVEL has more room than us. »
Game 2 will take place at the Accor Arena in Bercy on Tuesday evening, in front of 15,000 people. If they win again, the Mets 92 will have taken a huge step towards the final since this series is played in the best of five games.
