Basketball: Asvel relapses in Euroleague

Asvel lost to the Spanish club Baskonia Vitoria 88 to 81 in a match of the 9th day of the Euroleague basketball, Friday in its Astroballe hall in Villeurbanne and less than a week from its first outing in its new Arena at OL Vallée-Décines-Charpieu.

On this occasion, Asvel, still at the bottom of the European competition rankings with only two victories in its last five matches, took on the courts of the Lithuanians of Zalgiris Kaunas (91-88) and the Germans of Alba Berlin ( 73-68), will face Bayern Munich on November 23 (8:00 p.m.).

Deprived of their playing master, Nando de Colo (36 years old), injured behind a thigh against Berlin, the Villeurbannais who led at half-time (49-42) may harbor regrets against Vitoria who won their fourth consecutive success in the Euroleague.

Gianmarco Pozzecco's men, led by Mike Scott (22 points including 4/5 from 3 points), Joffrey Lauvergne (16 points) or Paris Lee (12 points) were ahead in the score from the start of the match until the 26th minute when the Basques took the advantage for the first time (59-58).

At 1 minute 11 seconds remaining in the third quarter, Pozzecco, whose coaching may be questionable, was sent off for a second technical foul as his team lost its footing against an opponent who had moved with only nine players but who was able to count on the formidable skill of Markus Howard (35 points including 8/13 at 3 points, 61.5% success on outside shooting).

Chima Moneke (19 points) and Mathew Costello (16 points) were the other architects of the Spanish success.