Mathieu Warnier, Media365, published on Saturday December 6, 2025 at 10:50 p.m.
Traveling to Strasbourg, ASVEL achieved a success which allows it to take sole lead in the Betclic Elite ranking. For its part, Monaco rediscovered the taste of victory in Dijon.
ASVEL knew how to seize its chance. Having the same record as Strasbourg before going to Rhénus, the Rhône club knew that it could make a big impact in the event of a victory in Alsace. Pierric Poupet’s players successfully met the challenge. A duel at the top that the Villeurbannais knew how to start well, leading by five lengths after three minutes. If the SIG tried to react, the teammates of captain Nando de Colo (20 points) completed the first ten minutes with a mattress of nine units. But, after pushing their advantage to twelve lengths at the start of the second quarter, ASVEL conceded a 7-0, relaunching the Strasbourg side.
The latter then held on under the leadership of Mike Davis Jr (16 points) to stay under the seven-point mark before returning to their locker room five lengths behind the Rhodaniens. As soon as the restart, ASVEL regained a double-digit lead but it did not last very long. But, after reducing its deficit to just three lengths at the very end of the third quarter, the SIG cracked at the end of the match. The Rhodanians won by fifteen points (81-96) and took advantage of the opportunity to move to the top of the standings before the Nanterre match against Bourg-en-Bresse this Sunday.
Monaco is relaunching
But the threat posed by the “Roca Team” remains very present. Two weeks after the setback conceded on their floor against JL Bourg, Vassilis Spanoulis’ players were able to bounce back during a trip to Dijon. From the start, the Monegasques imposed their rhythm and the gap too quickly exceeded ten units for the JDA. Led by the same margin at the end of the first quarter, Gregor Hrovat’s teammates (22 points, 5 assists) conceded a 12-0 at the start of the second before raising their heads. Inflicting a 14-2, the Dijonnais returned to their starting delay before joining their locker room twelve lengths behind the ASM.
Uncompromising for a while, Elie Okobo’s teammates (14 points) also experienced air gaps allowing Dijon not to be left behind on the scoreboard. The JDA players took the opportunity to get closer to just two units as the fourth quarter approached. An end to the match which saw Monaco raise their voice to end the suspense. The “Roca Team” won in the end by thirteen points (86-99). An evening which also saw Chalon-sur-Saône win at Le Mans (87-93), which conceded a third defeat in four games. Cholet, for its part, narrowly beat Limoges (91-88).
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