By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
While the third position in the Pro A standings is now overcrowded thanks to a four-way tie, Strasbourg (17-6) and Monaco (16-7) are alone in the first and second place respectively, having increased their advantage from the rest of the teams.
Although Vincent Collet’s players relaxed a bit in some moments of their game against Rouen (5-18) they got quite serious near the end and finished the job according to what their superiority dictated. Strasbourg finished the match with an impressive number of 27 assists, showcasing the solid teamwork that surrounded its basketball.
Monaco was initially stunned by Paris Levallois (7-16) on the road. But the Cup holders soon transformed the 21 – 16 into a 23 – 31 in the beginning of the second period and then completed 0 – 9 run during the last minutes of the first half, pretty much ending the game early in their favor.
Apart from the magic touch of veteran David Andersen, Villeurbanne (18-5) found ample solutions from long range and that late shooting brilliancy ultimately brought a quite important win against Chalon/Saone (15-8). The team of Lyon is among the four teams that are squeezed in the third place, along with Orthez (15-8), Chalon/Saone and Le Mans (15-8).
Speaking of Le Mans, the team of coach Kunter fell victim of the reigning champ’s pride in Beaublanc and of one player in particular. Yakhuba Diawara had zero points entering the fourth quarter of the game between Limoges (11-12) and Le Mans, but finished with 10, helping the hosts grab a result that fills them with oxygen. Time will tell if this victory has given the Limougeauds the appropriate momentum, needed to catch the train of the playoffs.
Pro A 2015/2016 – Day 23
Villeurbanne (David Andersen 22 p. 8 r.) – Chalon/Saone: 84 – 81
Châlons-Reims – Dijon (C.J. Williams 18 p.) : 76 – 78
Limoges (Ali Traore 19 p. 4 r.) – Le Mans: 81 – 72
Strasbourg (Kyle Weems 22 p. 5 r. 4 a.) – Rouen: 84 – 71
Nancy – Antibes (Tim Blue 23 p. 6 a.) : 83 – 86
Pau-Lacq-Orthez (Wilfred Yeguete 14 p. 15 a.) – Cholet: 83 – 71
Orleans (Antoine Eito 15. 10 a.) – Le Havre: 92 – 75
Paris-Levallois – Monaco (Jamal Shuler 20 p. 6 a. 5 r.): 67 – 94
Gravelines Dunkerque – Nanterre (Mouhammadou Jaiteh 21 p. 10 r.): 66 – 76