By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Combining an improved effort in defense with the clutch talents of Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne escaped Zalgirio Arena with a win.
Topping Zalgiris, 91-88, produced the first victory of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season on Thursday.
Returning to action in style, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot dropped 19 points with 5/9 field goals, including the game-winning bucket with 19.6 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Six rebounds, three steals, and one assist built on the game-high PIR of 26.
Two free throws connected by the 28-year-old forward sealed the deal as time eventually ran out for the Lithuania champions. “We have been waiting for that win for a long time. Finally, it is here,” he reacted to his side snapping an 18-game losing streak in Europe’s premier club continental competition, “We played together from the beginning to the end.”
Visiting his former team from 2020 to 2022, Joffrey Lauvergne put in 13 points, five rebounds, four assists, and one steal. “It was hard for me to come back here. But of course, I am really happy for the team. I hope this can help us for the rest of the season,” he mentioned.
Three more players scored in double-digits. Youssoupha Fall made it to 15 points, while Nando De Colo finished with 13 points and Mike Scott with 12 points.
Guided by Gianmarco Pozzecco, the French club dug its way out of a 13-point hole by allowing only eight points in the fourth period. Turning a high-scoring affair with numerous triples into a defensive battle was behind jumping to 1-6 in the EuroLeague.
“He gives a lot of passion,” Lauvergne replied to a question on the impact of the Italian tactician, “When a coach changes in any team in the world, there is always a reaction from the players.”
Luwawu-Cabarrot was cleared for action after missing ten days with a leg injury, but 19-year-old Noam Yaacov (foot) was ruled out for the Round 6 contest. John Egbunu sat out as well. On the opposite end, Zalgiris kept Danielius Lavrinovicius (ankle) on the sidelines.
Tomas Dimsa setting a new personal record in the EuroLeague with 21 points did not prevent falling to 3-3 with a second loss at home. Keenan Evans had 19 points. Rolands Smits pulling down five rebounds to go with five points, three assists, and one steal, was highlighted by the 500th board in his EuroLeague career.
“We could not control the game better,” play-caller Kazys Maksvytis commented on a poor showing in defense discrediting the offense.
“We created many great shots but we missed them,” he added on the lack of an effective reaction after surrendering the lead for the first time in the entire contest in crunch time.
“Something amazing happened”
Pozzecco, 51, got his first EuroLeague win. Following the exciting finish, he revealed a discussion with his starter Paris Lee.
“Tonight, something amazing happened,” he said, “Three minutes before the end of the game, I called Paris Lee. I wanted to put him on the court. We needed him in offense at that moment, but we were very good in defense”
“He asked me, ‘Are you sure?’ I said, ‘What do you want to do?’, ‘Let them play,’” added Pozzecco on the 28-year-old guard willing to stay on the bench instead of potentially disrupting the effective defense, “That is something more than everything, for me. Build this kind of atmosphere. Build relationships in the locker room.”
Demanding challenges
Moving deeper into the 2023-24 schedule, the Kaunas outfit visits Anadolu Efes next Thursday. Before EuroLeague’s Round 7, taking on domestic rival Rytas will break the tie on top of the Betsafe LKL standings on Friday. Both sides remain undefeated after seven games.
ASVEL will stay on the road to face Limoges CSP aiming to jump to 7-3 in France’s Betclic Elite on Sunday. The continental matchup opposite AS Monaco in Salle Gaston Medecin will follow on Friday.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net