By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Ahead of the fifth and last contest of the Jeep Elite Pro A Finals between LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne and AS Monaco, the head coach of the visiting side Sasa Obradovic and his player Amara Sy discussed the difficult conditions at the Astroballe, home of ASVEL. Per Ouest France, the 50-year-old Serbian coach criticized the inducing “inhuman conditions” created by the lack of air conditioning and the temperature reaching.
“It is a problem for both teams” Obradovic pointed out and afterwards warned: “There is no immediate solution, but a solution must be found for a team that will participate in the EuroLeague. The current conditions are not at all suitable for playing a good basketball game.”
Former ASVEL forward and current Monaco player, Amara Sy added: “In Game 2, Eric Buckner felt sick returning to the locker room. We were really scared for him. Everything was resolved after the doctors took care of him. Paul Lacombe as well did not feel very good”.
“This is a problem” Sy went on and explained: “Having played several seasons with ASVEL, I know it is a problem for the games, the spectators and the players. We will attempt to be in the best mental condition, drink three times more, to resist the heat. It will be complicated for everyone.”
On his part, Zvezdan Mitrovic, head coach of ASVEL, confessed: “It was already hot in the first two games and will be even hotter on Tuesday. These are not easy conditions, especially in the Playoffs, but the conditions will be the same for both sides.”
The best-of-five series is tied at two wins apiece. Game 5 at the Astroballe on Tuesday evening will crown the new French League Champions.