2023-10-18 00:33:01
By Le Figaro with AFP
Published yesterday at 9:39 p.m., Updated 2 hours ago
New setback for TJ Parker’s men. Kevin Domas / Kevin Domas / Panoramic
Third setback in as many outings on the European scene for Tony Parker’s club. A narrow defeat against the Turks of Anadolu Efes, in Istanbul.
Asvel, in difficulty in recent weeks, began its perilous Euroleague week in Istanbul with a defeat against Efes (89-84) on Tuesday, its third in as many days and its sixteenth in a row in the competition. The Villeurbannais, beaten for the sixth time during their last seven matches in all competitions, will try to break, Thursday against Fenerbahçe, this terrible series which is weakening their coach TJ Parker.
«We will continue to work, stay the course, there is not much else to do. We are motivated, we want to do well, for the moment we are not at the level expected of us» declared interior designer Joffrey Lauvergne at the microphone of the broadcaster Skweek. “Sometimes it takes time in a team for everyone to find their place and make their contribution. I have confidence in this team” he added.
Outclassed by Partizan Belgrade on Thursday at home (88-62), Lauvergne and his teammates showed better performance in the room of the 2021 and 2022 European champion. More aggressive in defense than in their previous outings, skillful at three points in the first quarter, they were still in the lead at half-time, reached eight lengths behind but after having conceded a 4-0 to end the second quarter.
Fatal third shift, TLC in the infirmary
But their performance was weighed down by a terrible third quarter against teammates Shane Larkin (18 pts) and Will Clyburn (19), where they lost their footing and fell behind by up to 21 units (63-42, 26th) before raising his head in the wake of Nando De Colo (25 pts, top scorer of the match).
Trailing by 14 points at the start of the final period, the Villeurbannais had two balls at the start of it to come back ten lengths, in vain until the last 90 seconds (81-71). Too late against a team which never seemed really threatened and calmly controlled the final rush (85-79 17 seconds from the buzzer) by showing itself solid on the penalty line. Asvel also deplores the ankle injury of Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot, before finding the “Fener” probably even better tested than Efes.
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