Baskonia keeps the ‘Top 8’ before the last dance
Thompson directs another forced victory against ASVEL to continue depending on themselves to be in the ‘playoffs’
MADRID, 6 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Cazoo Baskonia defeated ASVEL Villeurbanne (120-100) this Thursday in the penultimate day of the Regular Phase of the Euroleague, taking advantage of their last game at home against the bottom of the table to maintain eighth place and depend on themselves to be in some ‘playoffs’ that will have one last heart attack dance.
Joan Peñarroya’s men gave the Fernando Buesa Arena an offensive exhibition, without worrying too much about defense. Darius Thompson (23 points, 12 assists and a PIR of 36) led a forced victory for a Baskonia team that started their game outside the ‘Top 8’ due to the victory of Zalgiris Kaunas.
Those from Vitoria, who have not left that noble area throughout the season, have it in their power to be at the crossroads for the ‘Final Four’ and despite the multiple accounts, at least they depend on themselves in the final day next week against Olympiacos. With 32-24 in the first quarter, Baskonia left the scoring trend that the match against the Gauls would have.
The start could have been better for those from Peñarroya, but ASVEl, with nothing at stake, did not lose face to the match until the last quarter. Without the best version of De Colo and with a much shorter rotation than the locals, Mathews was the one who pulled the visiting car, while Giedraitis and Thompson marked the Basque path towards the break, with the need to improve in defense.
It was the assignment for both of them for the second half, but Baskonia preferred to continue plugging in first, just like Mathews leaving his best game of the season with a De Colo already in tune but dosed for his League in France. On the local side, Thompson confirmed his leadership and the Barça team found weapons, such as Hommes, Kotsar, Kurucs, for the bulky victory.
DATASHEET.
–RESULT: CAZOO BASKONIA, 120 – ASVEL VILLEURBANNE, 100. (55-51, at halftime).
–EQUIPMENT.
CAZOO BASKONIA: Thompson (23), Marinkovic (10), Giedraitis (19), Hommes (12) and Kotsar (15) –starting five–; Costello (8), Heidegger (3), Howard (5), Raieste (-), Enoch (8), Díez (6), Kurucs (10).
ASVEL VILLEURBANNE: Bost (12), De Colo (19), Kahudi (11), Lighty (12) y Fall (4) –initial quintet– Mathews (25), Obasohan (4), Pons (9), Tyus (4).
–PARTIALS: 32-24, 23-27, 33-24, 32-25.
–REFEREES: Petek, Nikolic and Silva. Removed Foul Failure.
–PAVILION: Fernando Buesa Arena.