In normal times and with all the Orleans forces present, face ASVEL, third in Betclic Elite it is already very complicated. Without Youssou Ndoye, top scorer in the OLB and best rebounder in the championship, injured in the hand, the mission became even more perilous, if not impossible. No surprise, theOrleans Loiret Basketball was upgraded this Saturday at the Palais des Sports by ASVEL (73-87), for the 27th day of Betclic Elite. In the standings, the Orléanais, who are two games behind (against Bourg-en-Bresse and Strasbourg), remain at the gates of the relegation zone, thanks to the defeats of their direct competitors, FOS on sea and Chalon-Reims.
The game
The Orléanais however started the meeting perfectly, in contact with Villeurbanne, aggressive defensively and effective offensively, like Lamonte-Ulmer and Nobel Boungou-Colo. The OLB even led 17-15 at the end of the first quarter. Except that in the second, the machine completely seized up and ASVEL unrolled. The entrance of Youssoupha Fall (10 points three rebounds in the second quarter time) allowed the Rhodaniens to pass in front but especially to inflict on Orleans a terrible 20-0.
Despite a second half in Orleans at the level, with leaders at the rendezvous, Lamonte-Ulmer (19 points, six rebounds), Nobel Boungou-Colo (22 points, five rebounds) and Chris Warren (13 points, five assists, three rebounds), the OLB failed to come back, against a Euroleague team and its high-level rotations. Note also the good performance of Junior Mbidawho played more than 27 minutes in the absence of Youssou Ndoye and finished with 12 points three rebounds, with a real impact and a decisive role in the racket.
Player: Victor Wembanyama
It was the feeling of meeting and Victor Wembanyama did not fail its excellent reputation. Expected as the future of the France team and the NBA, the18 year old interiorauthor of 17 dots (ASVEL’s top scorer), five rebounds and four blocks, made all his natural class and ease speak in front of an impressed Sports Palace. In the racket or at long distance, he allowed his team to take off and maintain their lead in the score.
News of the day: Emanuel Terry new medical freelancer
To replace Youssou Ndoyewhose duration of unavailability is not yet known, the OLB has chosen Emanuel Terry. The American pivot was at the Palais des Sports on Saturday, and he should be qualified for the trip to Cholet on Tuesday. The 25-year-old American was playing this season in G League (American secondary league) under the colors of the Stockton Kings (14.2 points, 8.6 average rebounds per game) after a freelance at the Phoenix Suns in the NBA (three games). He experienced Europe during the 2020-2021 season with theRed Star of Belgrade.
The reactions
Germain Castano, OLB coach
OLB winger Lamonte Ulmer
“We will fight in the next eight games to stay in Betclic Elite. On the last two, our opponents were stronger, but we played well and we must rely on that to win in our next matches.“