One last one for the road. Building on its “extremely important” success in qualifying for the second phase of the Euroleague against the Hungarians of Miskolc this Wednesday (56-66), Basket Landes headed directly to Lyon for its last LFB meeting before the international break this Saturday (8 p.m.). Julie Barennes' players arrive with plenty of confidence to face Asvel, who suffered a heavy setback against Lattes-Montpellier in their last home match (66-85).
Last year, the Landeses came very close to the feat at the Astroballe against a host of international stars from Lyon (Marine Fauthoux, Marine Johannes, Gabby Williams, Héléna Ciak, Endy Miyem, Sandrine Gruda). Asvel managed to equalize despite eight points behind with thirty seconds remaining before winning in overtime (90-83). “I hope Marie Pardon no longer remembers Marine Johannes' last shot,” smiles Shona Thorburn.
Aggressiveness in attack
But this year, “it’s no longer the same team,” says the former Canadian international. Game systems have also changed. Last year, they had a bit of a WNBA style.” This season, Asvel lost almost its entire squad crowned champion of France in 2023 and led by David Gauthier. His former assistant Yoann Cabioc'h took the reins and relies on a strong domestic sector, notably with the international and Olympic medalist Dominique Malonga, whose dunk in the Eurocup this Wednesday against Limassol (Cyprus) is making a loop on the networks social (she is the first to have carried out one in Europe). “We'll have to try to contain her in defense, it's not going to be easy,” whispers Julie Barennes' assistant.
If the defensive performance was solid against Miskolc, the latter wants to see the Landaises “more aggressive in attack” against Asvel to finish this first block of six weeks of competition well.
France
