By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Pulling away in the second half behind a brilliant defensive effort, Valencia gets the win over LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne on Friday.
The team coached by Alex Mumbru dominated on the way to a 78-55 victory in the brand-new LDLC Arena.
Building on the home win versus Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet on Wednesday, the Taronges wrapped up the double-game week by improving to 7-6 in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.
Making the most of the trip to France, Semi Ojeleye scored a game-high 16 points with 8/9 field goals in the Round 13 affair. Chris Jones followed with 14 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter to seal the deal against his former team.
“We are the same team that won those games in the beginning,” Ojeleye commented on his side bouncing back from four consecutive losses with two wins this week, “Everybody from top to bottom stepped up tonight and we got the win.”
“We are a good defensive team. Tonight, we just showed it,” stressed Damien Inglis after tallying seven points, eight rebounds, two assists, and one steal in his return to France, “It is a great win for us. We needed it. Hopefully, we keep going.”
Recently recovering from an injury in his left hamstring, Jared Harper appeared to suffer a setback and exited with 5:22 remaining in the fourth quarter. Sitting out were Xabi Lopez-Arostegui and Martin Hermannsson alongside Guillem Ferrando.
A former Valencia player, Joffrey Lauvergne recorded a team-high 13 points for the French club. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot packing 12 points extended his double-digit scoring streak to eight games.
A team total of 4/25 from beyond the arc highlighted struggles, especially missing all three-pointers in the second half. “We were playing so good offensively the last few weeks and we today no,” said Gianmarco Pozzecco, “We will continue to work and find solutions, and stay together.”
A fifth loss in a row and sixth misstep in as many home games, his side fell to 2-11. Mbaye Ndiaye and Noam Yaacov did not play, apart from Boris Dallo not suiting up.
Demanding challenges with a Greek taste
Trailing only AS Monaco with an 11-4 record and hoping to remain second in France’s Betclic Elite, ASVEL meets Paris in Halle Georges Carpentier on Sunday. The next continental affair is on Thursday against Panathinaikos Aktor in LDLC Arena.
Sitting at 8-4 in Spain’s Liga Endesa, Valencia resumes the domestic campaign with an away game opposite UCAM Murcia on Sunday. To Greece, facing Olympiacos makes Round 14 of the EuroLeague Regular Season next Friday.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net