Baskonia succumbs to ASVEL and deepens its crisis

Baskonia experienced another day of suffering during their visit to Lyon. The 94-79 defeat against LDLC ASVEL perpetuates a crisis that extends beyond the Euroleague, also impacting the Liga Endesa. With this result, the team from Vitoria holds a record of 1-8 in the continental competition, matching the worst record alongside Armani Milan, while they are on a six-game losing streak in Europe since their match against Besiktas on October 9 (84-92).

The team led by Perasovic has been unable to find the path to victory for weeks. Their last win dates back to October 11, when under the direction of Paolo Galbiati, they defeated Joventut 93-73 in the Liga Endesa. Since then, the storm has not ceased, and Vitoria finds themselves trapped in a negative spiral that affects both their morale and their chances of competing in both competitions.

ASVEL's dominance from the first quarter

The match started with hope for Baskonia, who led the scoreboard (10-12), but ASVEL ended the first quarter with a decisive 26-16 that set the tone for the game. Tony Parker's team reached halftime with a ten-point advantage (49-39), controlling the pace of the game and demonstrating a physical superiority that the Vitoria team could not neutralize.

In the third quarter, Baskonia tried to close the gap, reducing the distance to six points (63-57), generating some hope within their ranks. However, ASVEL responded immediately and widened the lead back to 75-59. The final period was devastating for Vitoria. A 6-0 run at the start of the last quarter extended the difference to 22 points (81-59), definitively sealing the match and leaving little room for a reaction.

Washington and Mills, standout players for ASVEL

Americans Tyty Washington Jr. and Patty Mills were the main tormentors of Baskonia. Washington delivered an almost perfect performance with 21 points, shooting 7 of 7 from two-point range, and accumulating a rating of 29. Mills contributed with 20 points, hitting 5 of 7 attempts from three-point range. Their offensive precision proved decisive in the victory for the Lyon team.

ASVEL demonstrated remarkable effectiveness from three-point range, successfully hitting 12 of 26 attempts. In contrast, Baskonia managed only 4 of 22 from beyond the arc, a staggering difference that highlights the lack of offensive rhythm from the Vitoria team. The players from Vitoria relied on their performance from the free-throw line, converting 23 of 29, and their 18 offensive rebounds, but it was insufficient to compete against such an effective opponent.

Kenneth Faried, the best Vitoria player on a grey day

On the Baskonia side, Kenneth Faried was the standout player with 17 points, 8 rebounds, and a rating of 29. The American power forward tried to carry the offensive weight of his team, but his efforts were inadequate against the French collective. Marcio Santos contributed 13 points, while Kobi Simmons rounded out the Vitoria contributions with 12 points.

The Vitoria team traveled to France with only 11 players, two of whom were juniors and did not see any playing time. The absences of Tadas Sedekerskis, Rodions Kurucs, and Duarte, all injured, deprived Perasovic of important offensive resources at a critical moment in the season.

Perasovic's reflections after the defeat

After the match, Velimir Perasovic did not shy away from analyzing the situation, although his words reflected the frustration of someone witnessing their team struggle to reverse such a negative trend. The Croatian coach acknowledged that they had the right attitude, but it was not enough. "We had a good attitude, but it wasn’t sufficient. They played physically and have many playmakers capable of creating their shots out of nothing and scoring in one-on-one situations, which is very important in today's basketball and something we have lacked," declared the Vitoria coach.

Perasovic explained that the match turned south from the early stages. "After that, it was all about rowing upstream. We also made many mistakes in the last seconds of the possessions," he added, pointing out the lack of precision in crucial moments. The Croatian also mentioned the number of away games played and the level of their opponents as influencing factors, although he clarified that he did not intend to use them as excuses.

Despite the severity of the situation, Perasovic tried to maintain composure and hope. "It is obviously very tough to lose so many consecutive games, but there's no other way. We have to pick ourselves up and think about the next one. We cannot sink into despair," he concluded, conveying a message of resilience to a team that urgently needs to regain confidence.

Turbulence in management and movements in the market

The defeat came on a particularly turbulent day in Vitoria. President Josean Querejeta faced tense moments after the boos and insults directed at him from the crowd at Buesa Arena during the previous Tuesday's match against Real Madrid. Throughout the day, it was reported that the chairman was considering stepping down from the presidency, a position he has held since 1987. However, it was confirmed in the afternoon that it is accepted in Vitoria that Querejeta will continue to lead the institution.

On the sporting side, the club is navigating an open transfer market. Baskonia is seeking at least two signings to reinforce their squad, with Jabari Parker being one of the options considered. It was also revealed that the club made an offer for Roman Sorkin, which Maccabi rejected. Perasovic had publicly called for reinforcements following the defeat against Valencia, when the team had accumulated six consecutive losses, matching their worst streak in twelve years.

Baskonia's next commitment in the Liga Endesa will come on Sunday, November 1, against Kids&Us Manresa at Buesa Arena at 5:00 PM, in the sixth round of competition. In Euroleague, the Vitoria team will visit Fenerbahçe on Thursday, November 5, at 7:00 PM, in the tenth round of the highest continental competition. Both matches represent crucial opportunities to attempt to break a streak that threatens to completely demoralize the Vitoria team.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Baskonia sucumbe ante ASVEL y amplía su crisis