First semi-final, and first qualification for the Euroleague final for Villeneuve-d’Ascq. The Northerners beat Prague this Friday afternoon in Mersin (Türkiye), 84-78. The players of Rachid Meziane, named best coach of LFB on Thursday, will face the winning team of the other semi-final, between Fenerbahçe and Mersin (6 p.m. in France), Sunday (6 p.m.).
The “Guerrières” deployed their aggressiveness from the start of the meeting, to lead by eight lengths (21-13, 7th), before Valériane Ayayi, at her best this season in the Euroleague (24 points, 4/8 to 3 pts , 6 rebounds, 5 assists), put the Czech team back on track, thanks to two award-winning baskets and a free throw (21-20). The ESVBA then struggled to stay in contact, suffering the combined attacks of Ayayi and Nyara Sabally (12 points), but was only six points behind at the break (37-43).
Despite some blunders, and basketball seeming less confident than its opponents, more experienced at this stage of the competition (seven Final Fours in nine years), Villeneuve-d’Ascq gathered its strength (4 players with more than 10 points), and ended up taking the lead at the start of the last act, started at 63-62.
“I knew we could do it, we believed in ourselves, and we didn’t give up,” commented Kamiah Smalls, main pillar of the Guerrières revolt (18 points, 7/11 shooting, 6 rebounds, 7 assists), at the FIBA microphone. Janelle Salaün added 15 units, Kariata Diaby 14 (9 rebounds, including 6 defensive), Shavonte Zellous 11.
Prague, 4th last season, will try to get on the podium on Sunday (small final at 3 p.m.), while Villeneuve-d’Ascq, the first French team to reach the Final Four for ten years, will compete in the final to add a second European trophy to their prize list, after the Eurocup in 2015.