ASVEL crowned French champ for 18th time

ASVEL clinched the French Pro A title on Tuesday, completing a remarkable final series that saw the club fight back from 2-0 down to win three consecutive games. ASVEL claimed the scalp of Strasbourg in the process, securing the title from position of underdog with a 77-80 road win in Game 5 of the series.

The win enhances ASVEL as the winningest in Pro A history, with the club now sitting pretty on 18 league successes through the decades. That is some way ahead of second placed Limoges with 11 titles. Speaking of Limoges, this season was guaranteed to break the club’s two season hold on the Pro A, with Strasbourg and ASVEL contesting the final.

Both these clubs were on title droughts, ASVEL’s running back to its last success in 2009 and Strasbourg’s barren spell going way back to 2005.

Strasbourg vs. ASVEL, 77-80

As you would expect from a title deciding game, this was a close affair in the end with both clubs pushing the limits in pursuit of the gold. However, on the box score it reads a game of ups and downs as neither teams could hold the floor in dominant fashion for long.

The first quarter saw the green shirts of ASVEL dominate offensively, with the visitors plundered 22 points on their way to a healthy 15-22 lead through ten minutes. Strasbourg started to work the ball better and organized positional in defence in the second quarter, managing to sneak the frame 19-18. Still, through the long break, ASVEL led 34-40. The game looked to be settled in the third act when the guests drained 27 points and held Strasbourg at 14 points to make it 48-67 through thirty minutes. The home team thought otherwise and lit up the hardwood in a blistering fourth quarter performance where they poured in 29 points. However, ASVEL held firm in the closing seconds and clinched the title late on.

American point guard Casper Ware hit 27 points to set a game high pace for the winners, while Charles Kahudi had a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Strasbourg coach Vincent Collet tried everything to get back into the contest, rotating 10 players through the game. The rally almost paid off as Rodrigue Beaubois grabbed 23 points and Mardy Collins was good for 21 points and 5 dimes.