Monaco still dominates Asvel and widens the gap at the top of the Betclic Elite
Beaten by Asvel after an unbreathable Championship final last June, Monaco dominates its duel with Villeurbanne this season. For the third time in less than two months, Sasa Obradovic’s players won against their rivals on Sunday afternoon at the Astroballe (72-63), for the 19th day of the Championship. They had already emerged victorious from the first duel in Betclic Elite (97-78, December 6) and in Euroleague (84-75, December 1).
Asvel stifled offensively
Relaunched since the arrival of Dee Bost, former leader and captain of Monaco, TJ Parker’s team was suffocated by the Monegasque defense, blocked at 34% marksmanship (20 out of 58). Undermining work led by Chima Moneke (12 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks), back in Betclic Elite a year and a half after revealing himself with Orleans.
In the wake of the Nigerian interior and Elie Okobo (20 points, best scorer of the match, 8 rebounds), champion of France in June with Asvel, the Roca Team erased a first shine (25-18, 12th ), created by the Belgian rear Retin Obasohan, excellent this Sunday (16 points, 5 interceptions), and author of a nice “little bridge” on Okobo. But when they returned from the locker room, Sasa Obradovic’s players took the lead. Donta Hall and his teammates notably took advantage of the absence of Youssoupha Fall (sick), to dominate the rebound battle (45 shots including 16 attacks at 27!).
In contact at the start of the last quarter (48-49, 31st) after an award-winning basket from Yves Pons, Asvel ended up giving in. Okobo made the break again for Monaco (48-54, 32nd), three points to conclude a fine offensive action generated by John Brown and Matthew Strazel. Muzzled, Bost and Nando De Colo (21 points combined, 6 of 19 shooting) missed several opportunities to close the gap, and after a nice lay-up from Okobo, Mike James ended the suspense with a long-distance arrow 42 seconds from the buzzer (58-68, 39th).
The Rock club took advantage of the defeat of Boulogne-Levallois on Friday (84-102 against Roanne) to take two victories ahead of the Mets at the top of the Championship. Asvel fell to eighth place, the last qualifying jump seat for the play-offs. A place that the Villeurbannais will have to defend against a difficult schedule (Dijon, Le Mans, Strasbourg) and overloaded with the rest of the Euroleague.