Trapped on Tuesday at the Astroballe by a team from Cholet who was led for thirty-five minutes, Asvel, whose game was too “poor” during “match 1” of the quarter-finals, found itself back against the wall on Friday, in the Maus. Where “CB” dreamed of repeating his feat of 2012, when he eliminated Gravelines, untouchable during the regular season and beaten 2-0 by Fabien Causeur and his teammates.
In a “Meilleraie” sold out and, as expected, boiling, the Villeurbannais knew that they should not miss their start to the match so as not to put themselves in great danger under the eyes of Rudy Gobert. But, once again unable to put their stamp on defense, they allowed themselves to be overwhelmed and their odds were seriously down in the fourteenth minute when Makoundou gave “CB” a twelve-point lead (32-20). While Fall and Wembanyama were already weighed down with two personal faults each.
So, of course, the “Okobo” show (19 points in 15 minutes) allowed Asvel to sign an 18-6 which brought it back to the same line as Cholet (41-41). But, after two free throws from Govens and an award-winning basket from Artis, the Maugeois logically went to the rope after a first period marked by 57% success for Laurent Vila’s men (46-41).
By finally rediscovering his defensive virtues, the champion got back on track at the right time (11 points awarded to Cholet in the last quarter), to the point of approaching the last act at the same height as his opponent, pushed by his boiling public (57-57).
He was finally in the hoped-for rhythm. By multiplying the defensive stops and pushing his rival to make mistakes, he got his hands on this match 2 and imposed himself as the boss, relaunching the dice in extremis to afford a “beautiful” which will take place on Sunday (7 p.m.) at the ‘Astroball.
The match sheet
In Cholet (La Meilleraie): Asvel beats Cholet 82 to 66 (17-24, 24-22, 16-11, 25-9).
Referees: Messrs. Difallah, Antiphon and Alouahabi. Around 5,000 spectators (boxes sold out).
-For Asvel: Okobo 26, Wembanyama, Jones 18, Kahudi 2, Lacombe 5, Knight 7, Gist 6, Fall 10, Osetkowski, Lighty 2, Howard 6, Strazel.
-For Cholet: De Sousa, Hogg 9, Makoundou 10, Artis 14, Robineau 5, Diarra, Dallo 8, Jok, Anosike 8, Govens 5, Campbell 7.