Are Villeurbanne residents running out of energy? To their supporters who were wondering about their ability to play a fourth high-intensity match in eight days – and the second in a row at the Astroballe barely 36 hours after the shock against Bayern Munich in the Euroleague -, the Rhone residents quickly respond in the negative. If they need a few minutes to get up to the pace imposed by the Choletais (2-7, 3rd), Nando de Colo and his partners are up to the shock at the top of the 7th day of Betclic Élite (14-14, 7th).
Without complexes, Cholet Basket is also on time. Bastien Vautier imposes his physique in the racket and Nathan De Sousa effectively takes on the role of conductor of the Cholet orchestra (19-21, 10th).
The astonishing entry into play of Soren Bracq
In the absence of TJ Campbell, injured in the foot, the question of management of the leader position at CB nevertheless arises. The answer is astonishing. While he had so far only been entitled to seven minutes of discovery in five appearances in the championship, against La Rochelle, Saint-Quentin, Gravelines or Monaco, Soren Bracq was quickly thrown into the deep end. A little too short on his first lay up attempt, the young Cholet player (17 years old) nevertheless immediately stood out thanks to his nerve. After scoring CB's last three points of the first act, he attacked the second quarter with two winning banderillas in the corners followed by a delicious offering for Roberson (20-29, 12th). Under pressure, the Villeurbannais rely on Théo Maledon to hang on then on the Ajinça/Lighty duo to come back level (39-39, 19th).
The last word of this first period nevertheless goes to the Choletais who, collectively, found the resources to inflict an 11-2 on their hosts before returning to the locker room (41-50, 20th).
After Paris, Cholet offers Villeurbanne
The return to business is even more positive for CB. An interception from Ayayi in the hands of De Colo, a powerful dunk from Vautier on Sako, a provoked offensive foul, a winner from Melvin… and the gap climbs to +15 in favor of Cholet (43-58, 23rd).
After Bracq's loss of the ball against Maledon (one of his rare errors) and the anger of coach Fabrice Lefrançois – which earned him a technical foul -, ASVEL returned below 10 points (64-72 , 28th). But with his sniper's composure, Smith makes the Cholet bench stand up for joy (63-77, 29th) which also stands up to salute the successful throw (out of three) by Bracq which gives CB a 14-point lead at the start of the final straight (64-78, 30th). And soon +19 after brilliant shots from Roberson, De Sousa or Jamuni (72-91, 35th). Minute after minute, despite two hat-tricks from Ajinça, the Choletais are thus drawing the outlines of a prestigious success. The second in a row in Betclic Elite against a Euroleague opponent for a team, which after falling in Monaco, has just snagged Paris and then Villeurbanne in its hunt. A happiness that never comes alone, Farbrice Lefrançois offered 19 seconds of play to the very young Robin Pluvy (17 years old) among the pros, in front of the eyes of his father Laurent Pluvy.
