There will therefore be a decisive fifth match in the final of the Betclic Élite, the French First Division Championship, between Asvel and Monaco. Asvel, Tony Parker’s club, won it by winning this June 22 in the Principality (85-68) in the fourth match of the final. The Villeurbannais took control from the start thanks to a more intense defense and a rediscovered address compared to the third game, in line with Marcos Knight and Chris Jones (19 points), and William Howard (thirteen points at 4/5 three dots).
See you on Saturday in the Rhône
After eight games this season, the two French teams involved in the Euroleague are tied (4-4). In the Gaston-Médecin room in Monaco, Asvel dominated the entire meeting by following two clear ideas: increasing defensive intensity and gaining skill behind the three-point line. A game plan that Elie Okobo already mentioned after the defeat in match 3: “You have to admit that we weren’t skilful enough”, he admitted before predicting that the “fourth match will will play (it) on the ability to defend well”.
From the outset, the Rhone dissuasion muzzled the Roca Team, forcing the Monegasque coach Sasa Obradovic to take a time out when his team was trailing 12-2. “We will have to start well, Asvel is always very strong at the start of the match”, he had however warned after the third meeting. “If we are solid, it will be an important step for the rest of the game. »
But at the end of the first quarter, the Villeurbannais were already leading 22-9 with much better marksmanship (60% against 25% for ASM). A heatstroke from Mike James and Dwayne Bacon, combined with increased defensive pressure from their team midway through the second quarter, saw the Monegasques reduce the gap to less than ten points (30-23).
Monaco remains on a slap at the Astroballe
However, the balance of power did not change during the match. Asvel managed to find various offensive solutions: Marcos Knight and Chris Jones both scored 19 points, taking over from Elie Okobo, untenable at the start of the match but forced to sit on the bench more than expected after made several mistakes. Besides the back three, the determining factor of the match was undoubtedly William Howard, very skilful behind the three-point line. He scored thirteen points on four successful shots from five attempted, including one almost in the middle of the field just before halftime.
Monaco, however, retains a chance to win its first title of champion of France. This will require winning at the Astroballe, where the Roca Team remains on a slap (91-54). The decisive match will take place on Saturday evening.
