Asvel won the last match of the Betclic Elite finals on Friday, against Monaco (84-82) after extra time at the Astroballe in Villeurbanne. This is Asvel’s third consecutive title.
Three in a row! Villeurbanne was crowned for the third time in a row on Saturday in its Astroballe room by beating Monaco (84-82) in overtime in the fifth decisive match, at the end of the suspense. Led throughout the final (1-0 then 2-1) before pushing the Roca Team to the fateful fifth meeting, Asvel continued their domination on the national scene with a hat-trick: 2019, 2021 then 2022. 2020, the season had been interrupted due to the Covid-19 pandemic and no team had been crowned. The “Old Lady” even adds a 21st French championship title to her list, the most extensive in France, while Monaco is still chasing after her first coronation.
For the Roca Team, history seems to repeat itself: the club had already lost in the final of the Elite 2018 and 2019, already after a fifth meeting, and is slow to confirm its ambitions in France. This title rewards the experience and continuity of Asvel, which also came close to elimination in the first round of the final phase by being led 1 to 0 against Cholet, before reversing the situation. This happy epilogue contrasts with the disappointing course of the historic French basketball club in the Euroleague. Despite a good start in Europe’s toughest club competition, the Villeurbannais collapsed in the second half of the season, finishing in penultimate place.
Willliam Howard décisif
Conversely, the Roca Team shone on the European scene, qualifying for the final phase and failing only against Olympiakos in the quarter-finals, after a Homeric confrontation. In the final, it was undoubtedly the collective spirit that ASM lacked, with the addition of brilliant players individually. Thus, the trio of pure attackers Mike James-Dwayne Bacon-Alpha Diallo was not enough for the Monegasques, overwhelmed by the solidarity of Villeurbanne.
Until the end, these two teams did not seem to be able to decide, as until this final match, where they were tied (4-4) after eight games this season. Villeurbanne led until the third quarter, but seemed to lose track in the final quarter. The Villeurbannais finally had the opportunity to win the match when Elie Okobo appeared on the free throw line when the two teams were tied a few seconds from time (75-75)… But failed. Whatever, Asvel dominated the overtime thanks to a winning shot and a decisive counter from William Howard (15 points, 9 rebounds in total) and the Astroballe was able to let its joy burst.