ASVEL drops Le Mans for Match des Champions win
ASVEL Lyon picked up where it left of last season by winning a trophy. The club narrowly edged Le Mans in the Match des Champions to tip off the new French domestic season. In this contest, the French LNB ProA winner and the French Cup winner are brought together for a supercup showdown.
After winning the ProA for a record 18th time last seasons, ASVEL is suggesting that it is ready to usher in a new era of dominance in France. Despite being the winningest club in the league by seven titles (Limoges is 2nd with 11 wins), ASVEL has actually only one the league three times in the last 25 years. The club has rarely been a dominant force in French Basketball for decades.
That could change following last season’s title, and the Match des Champions suggests the Lyon giant will be hard to beat. This was only the second time the club has won the supercup since it was inaugurated in 2005.
ASVEL vs. Le Mans, 75-71
The teams both started in solid fashion and traded buckets through parts of the first quarter. At ten minutes, neither set of players could be separated and the scoreboard was locked at 17 apiece. ASVEL picked it up in offence and closed shop at the back in the second quarter. A fine 22-11 run in the frame gave the ProA champs a healthy 39-28 lead at halftime.
With an 11 points cushion, ASVEL seemed in total control. However, cup winner Le Mans poured in thirty points in an impressive third quarter, while stopping Lyon at 13 points. Through thirty minutes Le Mans had turned the tide and led 52-58. The momentum swung again in the fourth act with ASVEL dropping 23 points to 13 in the deciding frame, enough to claim the win.
Adrian Uter topped the winners with 17 points, while Nicolas Lang added 16 points, and Bandja Sy 12 points.
Olivier Hanlan grabbed a game high 18 points in the losing effort, followed by Giordan Watson’s 17 points.