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Semi-final playoffs: Victor Wembanyama’s Mets win the first round against ASVEL

The Metropolitans of Boulogne-Levallois mastered Match 1 of the playoff semi-finals against Villeurbanne (75-69).

Without Nando De Colo, injured in the left calf, who will also be absent from Match 2, ASVEL lacked organization, finishing, fantasies, flashes, while the Mets were able to count on a very good leader. DeVante Jones (12 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists) who was relayed effectively by Hugo Besson.

Obviously, Victor Wembanyama (19 points, 8/18 in shots, 14 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assists, 2 blocks … and 5 stray bullets), played a decisive role but the Mets also knew how to play more as a team. Le Collet… ctif took precedence over ASVEL’s overly individualistic game.

Match 2 will be played on Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. at the Accor Arena in Paris-Bercy, most likely sold out since 15,000 tickets have already been sold.

TaShawn Thomas’ quarter

The tone was set from the start with an offensive rebound from Youssoupha Fall, countered by Wemby, but who took revenge on a following action with a hook shoot on this unstoppable shot. But it was the other interior of the Mets who stood out during the first quarter, the American TaShawn Thomas (8 points at 4/7 in shots). And on an award-winning buzzer shoot from Hugo Besson, the Mets had a 4-point lead (23-19) after ten minutes. It was also in the first quarter that Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, who played as young people at Levallois, arrived at the Palais des Sports Marcel-Cerdan, in addition to Drew Gooden.

+6 for the Mets at halftime

Victor Wembayama forced long-range shots… and was much more effective close to the circle in attack. He suffered on the other hand on one-on-one actions against the power of Youss Fall, at the same size but heavier. On a dunk from Wemby, which had been the cornerstone of a majority of actions at the end of the half (10 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks in just under 17 minutes), the Mets took for the first time 8 points ahead (38-30) less than a minute from the break before Dee Bost opened his counter to reduce it to 6 (38-32). ASVEL was then less than 40% in shots (13/34), despite the 4/5 of its Franco-Senegalese pivot.

The Mets always ahead

The defensive pressure of the Villeurbannais was intense but otherwise Jonah Mathews, it was very poor in attack, like Dee Bost (1/7 at that time). This is how the Mets went to +12 (50-38) in the 25th minute. Bilal Coulibaly was no stranger to it. Despite a deficiency in free throws (5/10), Vincent Collet’s men had even increased their lead a little (57-44) before Retin Obasohan reduced it to a 2 + 1 and a post basket (57-49 ).

Both teams were unhappy in the finish, but the clock was against ASVEL. A three-pointer from DeVante Jones gave the Mets air (68-56, 35th). The Villeurbannais came back to 70-63 with 57 seconds left, but a three-pointer from Lahaou Konate killed the game.

The boxscore is HERE.

Photo : Victor Wembanyama (Thomas Savoja)

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2023-05-28 15:06:58
#Semifinal #playoffs #Victor #Wembanyamas #Mets #win #ASVEL

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