Boulogne-Levallois at the meeting of the semi-finals. In three rounds, the Metropolitans got the better of Cholet in the quarter-finals of the play-offs. Crucified at the buzzer in the second game, Victor Wembanyama (19 pts, 9 rbs) and his little comrades won 81-69 this Thursday, at Marcel-Cerdan, under the eyes of the pivot of the France team and Minnesota Timberwolves Rudy Gobert. They will face Asvel in the semi-finals. Authors of a very good season, with seventh place in Betclic Elite and the final in the Fiba Europe Cup, the Choletais are on vacation. In the other part of the table, JL Bourg will challenge AS Monaco or Strasbourg, knowing that the Roca Team leads 1-0 in the series after their 88-84 victory on Wednesday evening.
Colliding with the defense of Vincent Collet’s men, the Choletais multiplied the ball losses and quickly ran after the score (20-9). The back line of CB Artis/Campbell – 2 points and 1/10 on cumulative shots at halftime – could not find its rhythm and the three points did not fall (1/10 at the break), while Bandja Sy (9 pts) fed the scoring at leisure on the Ile-de-France side (29-16). Rider alone. The rise of “Wemby” obviously did not help the business of the visitors (36-20), overwhelmed, overwhelmed, helpless. Laurent Vila demanded more intensity, in vain: the collective machine of the Mets 92 was launched. With this touch of success that goes well, like on this buzzer shot from DeVante Jones (15 pts) before the break (42-24 MT). Massive blow.
Already 13 points for Wembanyama at the break. But it was the entire Boulogne-Levallois team that was in tune. So much so that the CB players were still picking on the recovery, without a solution in the face of the collective strength of their hosts (46-25). Health walk in sight? No. T.J. Campbell (6 pts) and Dominic Artis (14 pts) finally came out of their box (46-32) and Boris Dallo (15 pts), discreet after a good start to the match, brought his team down to -11 (51-40) . Unexpected! “We have to stop Artis,” Collet told his men during a timeout, even if it was Campbell who rekindled the flame with a big three-pointer.
The mechanics of Cholet were finally launched, freed up, with long-distance skill. Enough to look good and look the Mets 92 in the eye at the end of the third quarter hanging. Not enough to calm the ardor of “Wemby”, nor that of Jones, author of a superb movement under the circle. The score at the start of the last 10 minutes? 66-49 for Boulogne-Levallois. The CB started well (64-53) and had cartridges to switch under the symbolic bar of 10 points difference. Like these two pluses from Lahaou Konaté, who are also valuable in defense, there was always a Metropilitans player to cut off the visitors’ momentum (72-57). Adroit from afar and decisive passer for an alley-oop concluded by the enormous Neal Sako (14 pts, 15 rbs), over Wembanyama, Campbell did not let go. Missed from “Wemby”, new basket from Sako in transition and time-out Collet, who had seen enough (72-64). From (very) far, Artis brought his people down to -7 (76-69), but the clock was in favor of the Mets, who held on (81-69 final score).
Next appointment with the Betclic Elite? Friday at 6 p.m., with the second match of the series between AS Monaco, third in the Euroleague in recent days, and the surprise Strasbourg. It will be on the side of the Rhénus. The Metropolitans will start their semi-final at home against Asvel, three-time defending champion, on Sunday. The opportunity for Wembanyama to find a club where he spent the past season, before hitting the road for the Paris region.