“No favorite” between ASVEL and Monaco according to Yakuba Ouattara – BeBasket
Photo credit: AS Monaco Basket
This Wednesday evening is match 1 of the Betclic Elite playoff finals between ASVEL and AS Monaco. In a pre-match press conference, Yakuba Ouattara spoke about the series that awaits them.
A few hours before match 1 of the long-awaited playoff finals between ASVEL and AS Monaco, the tension is gradually rising. Favorite parties to win the championship from the start of the season, the two EuroLeague pension teams have both signed a successful regular phase with a record of more than 73% of victories. During their direct confrontations in the regular season, the two teams are tied with 1 victory each. A first game which was played two points apart, 84-82 in favor of the Monegasques with a Motiejunas on fire that evening with 28 points. Then a second match won this time by the Villeurbannais 87-79 after a crazy meeting where the two teams separated after 50 minutes of play or 2 extensions. Same record in EuroLeague where the two teams stand at 1 victory everywhere (85-84 ASVEL then 100-75 Monaco). And on this subject, questioned at a press conference on Tuesday, the Monegasque rear Yakuba Ouattara promises great battles to come.
I know it will be a big fight. After saying if it will be in 5 games or not, I can’t say it but it will be a real fight. We are the two teams in the EuroLeague and the two headliners in the French championship this season. Each time we played against ASVEL, we saw that there was a big rivalry between the two teams and we always had the right to good battles so that should still be the case. It’s not really a favorite. ASVEL have the advantage of the field so they leave with a big advantage but in a final anything can happen. For me there is no favorite. The team that wants it the most will win this final.
From a more personal point of view, the French international will have the heavy task of defending against opposing leaders such as Elie Okobo, Chris Jones or Marcos Knight, ASVEL’s main offensive weapon. Known for his great energy and unfailing intensity, always impacting defensively, the number 24 seems ready and determined to face them.
I have my role in the team, I know what I have to do on the pitch. Whether it’s defending, sometimes scoring points, but first I try to have an impact that doesn’t necessarily show in the stats. It’s not going to be an easy task (to defend on Okobo and Jones) because right now they’re hot but we’re going to have to slow them down if we want to win. It’s a goal I’ve always had since I’ve been at the club, it’s to win this first French title with Monaco. We are lucky to do it so I really hope it will be a good year.
This title of champion of France would be the first real collective trophy of his career, after the victory in the championship of France hopes in 2013. The child of Elan Chalon knows so well the pain of a defeat for having failed in the fifth match against Le Mans in 2018 then Villeurbanne in 2019. At the end of his sixth Monegasque season, is it time to reverse the trend?
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June 15, 2022 at 11:35 am
A few hours before match 1 of the long-awaited playoff finals between ASVEL and AS Monaco, the tension is gradually rising. Favorite parties to win the championship from the start of the season, the two EuroLeague pension teams have both signed a successful regular phase with a record of more than 73% of victories. During their c…