A logical apotheosis at the end of a sumptuous season. Unhappy finalist a year ago against Asvel, Villeneuve-d’Ascq this time succeeded and got their hands on the title of champion of France. A coronation which concludes a 2023-2024 financial year dominated by the ESBVA, first in the regular season in the Championship and finalist in the Euroleague (defeat in the final against the untouchable Fenerbahçe, 73-106). The Northerners outclassed Basket Landes on Friday evening (114-88) to validate the second coronation in their history after that of 2017.
There was no discussion about the victory. The Guerrières were never behind, starting off flat-footed (14-0, 4th, then 21-4, 7th). After a quarter, the score was steep (35-18). At halftime, all suspense was reduced to nothing (64-41). And yet, Rachid Meziane’s daughters continued to support, authors of a long distance festival (14/31), sure of their collective (22 assists), with three players above 20 units (24 for Kamiah Smalls and Shavonte Zellous, 20 for Kariata Diaby, while Janelle Salaün had 12 points and 11 rebounds). And to think that Villeneuve was playing without double MVP Kennedy Burke (replaced by Keisha Hampton), who left for the WNBA after the quarters!
The Northerners undefeated in the play-offs
The final score was harsh for the Landaises, heroic this season and during the first leg, lost to the wire (66-70). It was there that the northern victory was taking shape, more than this evening in their lair of the Palacium. Basket Landes had not lost for 14 months in its setting and led by 14 units at the break (22-36) before a comeback led by Salaün, Caroline Hériaud and Diaby. They will never have recovered from this bamboo blow.
114
The number of points scored Friday by Villeneuve-d’Ascq, which confirmed its status as the best attack of the regular season (83.9 pts) and the play-offs (90 per match before this last round).
Unhappy finalists last year against Asvel, Rachid Meziane’s daughters finished the play-offs undefeated (6 wins, 0 losses). They pocket a guaranteed ticket for the Euroleague next season, which was a priority, for the fifth budget of the elite, in order to maintain its level of ambition and continue its march forward.
2024-05-17 20:38:10
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