ASVEL Villeurbanne 
Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv ASVEL Villeurbanne
Made/Att
Made/Att
Made/Att
DEF OFF TOT
CM RV
FV AG
Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv
Made/Att
Made/Att
Made/Att
DEF OFF TOT
CM RV
FV AG
Maccabi back on the road to clash with ASVEL on Wednesday
Following 6 straight home games, the yellows begin a EuroLeague double away week in France. Sorkin: "They are better than what the standings show"
Following six straight “home” games in Belgrade, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv begin a EuroLeague double week on the road. Oded Kattash and his men will clash with ASVEL Villeurbanne on Wednesday (9:15 PM Israel Time, 2:15 PM ET), as part of round 12.
The 6-5 Maccabees arrived in Villeurbanne after beating ALBA Berlin in their last contest, knowing that a visit to Bologna awaits on Friday. ASVEL, on the flipside, are 2-9 and already went through a coach change, as Italian Gianmarco Pozzecco replaced longtime tactician T.J. Parker on the Astroballe sidelines.
“We are facing a team with a lot of experience and players that went through a lot in the EuroLeague”, said Maccabi’s head coach, Oded Kattash. “Our goal is to carry the momentum from the game against ALBA Berlin and start the double week the right way”.
ASVEL are led by one of the EuroLeague’s best ever guards in Nando De Colo, who recently dished his 1,000th assist. Young Israeli point guard Noam Yaacov is part of the team’s backcourt rotation, along with Paris Lee. The French team’s squad also features experienced big man Joffrey Lauvergne, former NBA vet Mike Scott and leading scorer Timothe Luwawu-Cabarot (14.3 points per game).
“We feel good”, assured Maccabi big man Roman Sorkin. “ASVEL is a very good team, they play a lot better than what the standings show. We need to come aggressive, win the battle on the boards and try to win the game”.
Baldwin leads Maccabi to a 94-91 win in Villeurbanne
The yellows came up clutch in France, using 21 points, 8 assists and a deciding block by Baldwin to improve to a 7-5 record. On Friday: Maccabi visits Bologna
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv survived a tightly contested battle in France to improve to a 7-5 record, beating ASVEL Villeurbanne 94-91 on Wednesday. The Israeli champs used a 21-points, 8-assists performance by Wade Baldwin IV, who also made the game clinching block on Nando De Colo as time expired.
What was the Maccabees’ first game in front of fans in over a month, ended up as a game of runs. Maccabi jumped to a 33-23 lead in the second frame using a 15-3 run. The locals responded with a 15-0 spell of their own. From this point on, no team could create separation, but the yellows delivered in the clutch.
Apart from Baldwin, Lorenzo Brown (16 points) and Bonzie Colson (15) were also pivotal in the deciding minutes. Roman Sorkin added 15 points and 8 boards. Joffrey Lauvergne led ASVEL with 23 points and 9 rebounds.
“It was a hell of a game”, declared Baldwin, who tabbed De Cola as the “best European guard ever”. He added: “I’m happy for this team, we’re fighting through all the battles we have to go through as a club. We continue to show grit and fight and continue to string wins”.
