By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Neal Sako scored 19 points, but his biggest play of the game was a block over Isaia Cordinier that decided the 87-85 win of LDLC ASVEL over Virtus Bologna.
On a game ultimately decided on details, a great shooting start was enough for the home side despite a big Virtus comeback.
“I feel great. That is the first win of the season in the EuroLeague. We had been looking for it. I’m really happy for the team, my teammates and the fans that we got the job done tonight,” said Sako, who played the last two seasons with Cholet Basket.
Theo Maledon with 17 points and Nando De Colo with 16 were among the ASVEL standouts, while Shaquille Harrison added 13 points.
For the losing side, Cordinier had a stellar game with 23 points and six assists, which was not enough. Mouhamed Diouf added 15 points, Alessandro Pajola scored 11 and the duo of Will Clyburn and Tornike Shengelia scored nine points each.
The perfect three-point shooting quarter
The hosts had a first quarter to remember, making 7/7 threes and leading 38-27 after ten minutes of action with De Colo scoring 10 early points and Cordinier on the other side also having 10 to keep Virtus alive.
Still, a good start can make a difference and ASVEL kept its distance at halftime (57-49) by controlling the tempo of the game.
The story changed in the third period. While the hosts led by 13 (64-51) the shots stopped falling and Virtus found an opening tying the score at 68 after a 17-4 partial score. ASVEL was suddenly in trouble, entering the last quarter with a 3-point advantage (73-70).
With the game starting from scratch the two teams entered the last two minutes tied at 85, however Virtus didn’t score again. Sako with 1/2 free throws gave ASVEL the 86-85 lead one minute later, Toko Shengelia missed the chance to score, Theo Maledon added one more free throw (87-85) and in the end, Sako stopped Cordinier from tying the game.
“That last play is just Neal. It’s Neal all the way. He’s a hard worker. He works so hard every morning, after practice, before practice, that he deserves this,” coach Pierric Poupet praised Sako.
For the record, after starting with 7/7 the game, ASVEL finished the night with 8/22 threes.