Valencia assaults the Astroballe for the first time

Valencia Basket arrived in Lyon on a wave. After last Wednesday’s brilliant and symbolic victory against Efes, the same 11 (nine from the first team plus two kids from L’Alqueria) got on a plane and landed at the Astroballe, a place where Valencia had never won. And he won (79-83). But not in any way.

Because he had to knock down the Asvel twice. The first, in the first two quarters, with a choral game, spectacular in defense with an adjustment zone and hyper-successful in attack that they put 20 points up. And the second, even more meritorious, after Asvel, based on muscle, aggressiveness, success and sticks allowed by the referees, came back and even took the lead. With the same seven casualties as on Wednesday. Anyone would have let go, thinking about the battle on Sunday against Manresa, a to be or not to be to get into the Cup.

But not this team. That it will have its shortcomings, that sometimes it has gaps that become cesspools. But yes, he never gives up. Neither before the friend-enemy De Colo. And he curdled a last quarter full of personality, managing with little short advantages. With triple keys from Radebaugh (after a spectacular step back) and James Webb. And four free kicks converted at the end by the North American combo, which already demonstrates the reason for paying Tenerife to bring it to La Fonteta, and Prepelic. This is how Valencia adds the ninth victory that brings it closer to the playoff zone, and the second in three days in the Euroleague. Special mention to López-Arostegui’s game (13 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds for a PIR of 21) who also took responsibility when Asvel was a roller and the hoop was closed for Valencia.

Mumbrú surprised Asvel with a zone. It started with a +1 box on De Colo and little by little it mutated with a 2-3, alternating with some individual. Master move from the start because the French did not know where to get their hands on Valencia beyond hanging a ball from the ceiling to the giant Fall and the quality of two ex-stars, De Colo and Diot, who kept their team in the game.

Defense in the first half was the key to stop Asvel. But the taronja attack was outstanding. In the first two quarters 12/17 in shots from two and 8/16 in triples. They all contributed. In fact, all nine first-team players scored points in the first two quarters. Ferrando and Radebaugh stood out, in the direction and in the annotation, and especially Prepelic ¡Finally! .. who began assisting (6 in the first half) and ended up scoring. A 5-21 run, in the middle of the second quarter, with five consecutive triples: Radebaugh (2), Ferrando, Alexander and López-Arostegui put the maximum income in the entire game for Valencia (25-45, min. 17 ). However, Asvel reacted, led by De Colo and Diot, to cut to -13. But Prepelic, who seemed like the one from other seasons, was not intimidated and left it at 37-52, at halftime.

An easy basket by López-Arostegui at the beginning of the third act did not presage what happened next. A French gale. Valencia and Asvel won by 17, with an aggressive and quite permissive defense by the arbitration trio, managed to endorse a 17-0 run in just four minutes that equalized the match. The energy of Obasohan and Pons dismasted Valencia. Incredible but true. The taronja derangement was general. The Astroballe was a boiler. A free kick from De Colo, by technique to Mumbrú, put Asvel ahead for the first time (57-56) since the initial 2-0. A new game had started in which Dubai and Arostegui had at least come back to life and saved the advantage at the end of the third act (60-62).

Valencia had to win it again at the Astroballe. Mumbrú decided to live or die with the area. Actually, Asvel was feeling uncomfortable again after the rush of the third quarter. He never managed to put the French team on top. And the vital signs had returned to Valencia. He did it with two straight baskets from Mathews (72-71) with 3:46 to go. But at that moment, those from Mumbrú did everything right again. Radebaugh and Webb strafed from 6.75. Kahudi and De Colo returned the two triples to get up 78-79, with 28 seconds remaining. It was going to play in the free. Radebaugh and Prepelic did not miss; From Colo, yes.