Five days after winning in Villeurbanne in the Euroleague (84-75), the Monegasques did it again, this time on the Rock, in an advanced match of the 14e day of the championship against Asvel (97-78). Mike James’ team (26 points and 6 assists) broke away from the first quarter (33-15), almost perfect both in attack and defense, before giving a boost at the end of the match against the opposing return (77-68 five minutes from the end).
Asvel continues its tumble with this eighth defeat in the last ten matches in all competitions, a series in which it only beat the limited Fos-sur-Mer and Pau-Lacq-Orthez. In Elite, it is only balanced (six wins for six defeats) and close to being ejected from the wagon of the eight qualified for the final phase and for the Leaders Cup in February – the first eight at the end of the phase go and dispute it.
Fifteen points for Wembanyama
Asvel are far from Monaco, the only leader (10/2) after their success and the defeat in the late match of the 4e day of the Metropolitans 92 (9/2), who remained on nine successes in a row since their setback at the opening on September 23 in Gravelines-Dunkerque (85-73). The team coached by Vincent Collet constantly chased the score against the Chorale, which confirms its status as a head cutter after having already offered the scalp of Asvel at the end of October (89-83).
She knew how to muzzle Wembanyama, who, like his team, suffered a serious setback after four matches with at least 30 points (33, 30, 30 and 52). The 18-year-old and 2.21m prodigy, top scorer in the championship (24.1 pts average before the match) was limited to 15 units (1/5 to 3 points), his second lowest total of the season ( after the 10 scored in the 2e daytime).
READ MORE. At the buzzer, Dominic Artis frees the Meilleraie and torpedoes Fos-sur-Mer
Wembanyama was notably handicapped by a third early foul, an unsportsmanlike whistle at the end of the second quarter which prompted Collet to spare him. Boulogne-Levallois is second in the company of Cholet (9/2), winner on the wire (73-70) at home to Fos-sur-Mer in a late match of the 2e daytime. The Mauges club revived after a setback at… Roanne (98-72).
