By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
With 1:21 to play in the game between Partizan Belgrade and ASVEL Villeurbanne and the French team up 76 – 78, Theo Maledon attemtped a jumper, missing the shot.
Neal Sako didn’t manage to secure the offensive rebound but tried to push the ball toward his teammates and Nando De Colo grabbed on the other end of the floor. Partizan fans, players, and some assistant coaches, protested for a backcourt violation but it was perfectly legal for the French superstar to get the ball and continue the play.
“After a rebound on offense, you have the right to transfer the ball to the other half of the court. My players obviously, didn’t know the rules,which is unacceptable, especially since I’ve emphasized it a million times”, commented Partizan coach Zeljko Obradovic after his team’s 79 – 82 loss.
Very likely, the result would’ve been the same, and ASVEL would’ve won either way but Partizan players didn’t rush to grab the ball or apply any pressure to De Colo.
De Colo was ultimately the man who all but secured the win for ASVEL with a bucket from long range that made it 76 – 80 with 12 seconds remaining.