Mets-Asvel semi-final: how Victor Wembanyama filled the Accor Arena again in less than a day

2023-05-30 07:33:26

We will realize even better later, when he is no longer there, how much the Victor Wembanyama phenomenon touches on the irrational. For the third time this season, the giant fills this Tuesday, May 30, the Accor Arena on its own name. The Mets 92 “receive” Asvel (8:30 p.m., BeIN Sports) for the second round of the semi-final of the French Championship. Boulogne-Levallois leads 1-0 after the first lift on Sunday (75-69).

The second service takes place in the setting of the Porte de Bercy. Stuck between a concert by Aya Nakamura which freed the hall on Sunday evening and a show by -M- which will take over the premises from June 1, the Mets only had a few hours to prepare the large hall. No need to rush to the ticket office to salute the effort: there are no longer any of the 15,000 seats on sale, everything is full to the brim, even the press box.

PODCAST. Victor Wembanyama, leaps and bounds from French basketball to the NBA

“It’s exceptional, enthuses the coach of the Blues and coach of the Mets, Vincent Collet. The last places were sold on Saturday at 11 a.m., while the ticket office had been open at noon the day before. Even Arena officials were surprised by this incredible enthusiasm. There are many concerts that leave so quickly, but, generally, the fans know it and prepare in advance to connect. Our match was only announced late Thursday evening without being able to say anything before. We first had to qualify against Cholet. It’s incredible. We’re going to have a great night of basketball. »

Take full advantage of the Wemby arabesques

It’s quite irrational, indeed. Okay, there is the poster against the triple champions of France, the stake of the game which could bring Boulogne-Levallois closer to the final. But make no mistake: the one who still brings this crowd is called Victor Wembanyama and, in three weeks, will be drafted by the San Antonio Spurs. We want to enjoy his arabesques to the end. In a few days it will be too late. Unless the Mets extend the adventure and qualify for the final against the winner of the other half, between Monaco and Bourg. It’s gone well.

It is amazing this team of Boulogne-Levallois. We constantly talk about Victor Wembanyama, but it’s not just him: Bilal Coulibaly, the real revelation of the season, who will also be drafted in the first round by the NBA on June 22, is royal. Never bad, the American DeShaun Thomas is (very) very valuable and we must not forget that Vincent Collet’s team is the youngest in the championship, with the least experience on the field. She also the one who evolves with the most French players.

Yes, this team has something that could take it very far. “I’m enjoying it and I’m very proud of it”, repeats Vincent Collet, who will also say goodbye to him at the end of the season, to devote himself 100% to the French team before Paris 2024. This something is obviously called Victor Wembanyama, the planetary prodigy. But not only.