Monaco and Asvel headliners of the top 8 of the Coupe de France
Less than 48 hours to breathe and here is Monaco and Asvel already back on the track. After playing the 29th day of the Euroleague on Thursday – Monegasque victory against Bologna (81-68), Rhone defeat against Panathinaikos (82-86) – the last two finalists in the Championship have set their sights on Trélazé (Maine-et-Loire). On the menu: a quarter-final of the Coupe de France on Saturday and a possible semi-final the next day.
The Arena Loire had not smiled on the two biggest budgets of the Championship last spring. Villeurbanne had fallen in the quarters, struck down at the buzzer by Gravelines (78-79). ” Ineligible “, then fumed TJ Parker. The Monegasque adventure ended the next day, against Strasbourg (73-86, ap).
Monaco is not complete
Sasa Obradovic then saved four players (Bacon, Diallo, Motiejunas and Thomas) from a team en route to the Euroleague play-offs. A year later, if Monaco is still heading towards the European top 8, the Serbian coach will not be so lucky. Without Mike James – suspended by the club since Tuesday and who will not be reinstated this weekend – and with Yoan Makoundou uncertain (hamstrings), his catalog of options is no longer as provided to face Pau-Orthez (6 p.m.).
” We will play Saturday, maybe Sunday, then again Tuesday (against Le Portel in Betclic Elite) and Friday with a crucial game against Valencia. Does anyone think of the players? I try to give them respite but it’s impossible “, sighed Obradovic Thursday evening after the victory over Bologna. Title holdersthe Béarnais will try to create a surprise before returning to their daily life: the fight to maintain the Championship.
Asvel wants to forget its European failure
Left behind in the Euroleague, Asvel has reviewed its priorities: the three national titles. The first is in the pocket, the Leaders Cup won on February 19. But on Saturday, Cholet will be a tough first obstacle in the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France (8:30 p.m.). Third in the Championship, Laurent Vila’s players are still ahead of Villeurbanne and remain on a qualification for the semi-finals of the FIBA Europe Cup (C4) on Tuesday evening.
” This is clearly the most important of this weekendsuited the pivot of the Asvel Youssoupha Fall in the columns of the Progress. I already played this final once (in 2016 with Le Mans) and it is exceptional. We want to go back. At the start of the program, Bourg-en-Bresse, finalist of the Leaders Cup will challenge Strasbourg (1 p.m.), qualified for the top 8 of the Champions League. Finally, Le Mans and Dijon (3:30 p.m.) will be opposed in the last poster. The semi-finals will be drawn on Saturday evening.
