ASVEL stopped Partizan's five-game winning streak just days after ending Paris Basketball's 10-game winning run
ASVEL streak stoppers pulled out a big one in Belgrade
It took LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne eight games to finally win on the road this season, but it might have been worth the wait as it came in one of the toughest environments to play, at a packed Belgrade Arena to score a 79-82 victory over Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade on Tuesday night.
"We have to realize that we beat Partizan here, in Belgrade," head coach Pierric Poupet said to EuroLeague TV after the game. "They were rolling before. We are so happy because we respect so much their team and the coaching staff."
Despite losing its previous seven road games, and coming into a place where a majority of these players had never played before, it did not stop ASVEL from rallying from 9 points down in the third quarter, grabbing the lead going into the fourth, and never relinquishing it.
"Many of us never played in this kind of atmosphere, so I think we responded really good," said Joffrey Lauvergne who starred with 17 points and 9 rebounds.
Game Videos
Unlike his teammates, who were told to just go out there and have fun, Lauvergne did not like the situation. He is not just a former Partizan player and a special figure in club history as the first foreign team captain. So, how did he feel playing against a team he loves so much?
"Not so comfortable, I don't like it so much," he admitted. "But I found a way to play, and play good."
When looking for keys to ASVEL's victory, you will find the team's 7-of-8 three-point shooting in the third quarter and offensive rebounding throughout the night.
ASVEL entered the game averaging 9.7 offensive rebounds, with only two teams worse in that department. But led by Neal Sako and Lauvergne, ASVEL already had 10 offensive boards in the first half, then 5 more in the fourth quarter.
ASVEL scored just 16 points in the fourth, but 8 of those came after offensive rebounds, including a game-sealing jumper by Nando De Colo with 12.6 seconds to go.
And while ASVEL's offense might have struggled and needed a second effort, its defense held Partizan to 14 points in the fourth quarter.
"We had to make it defensive game, more than offensive, and [the players] did perfect. They came back with a great energy, and great mindset", Poupet stressed.
"All the hustle plays at the end, the big rebounds, offensive rebounds, blocks, steals when everybody contributed, that was big-time for us", explained Theo Maledon, who led ASVEL's efforts once again with 21 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists.
With this victory, ASVEL stopped Partizan's five-game winning streak. Last week, ASVEL ended Paris Basketball's 10-game winning run.
Next up is Zalgiris in Kaunas, which is a three-game winning streak of its own.
"I know my guys have a lot of pride, and character, and they will want to keep our first winning streak going. But this was our first win on the road, so we have to be more humble than everybody else," Poupet summed up.