ASVEL offers its first Leaders Cup, Nando De Colo MVP

In its large cupboard of trophies, ASVEL adds a first Leaders Cup next to a trophy of the Semaine des As won in 2010. It dominated the JL Bourg in the final (83-74) with a royal Nando De Colo, who was elected MVP.

The Villeurbannais showed their fangs during this Leaders Cup and after having overwhelmed Boulogne-Levallois and Le Mans, heavily handicapped, they left no chance to a full team that had eliminated beforehand Monaco, the favorite, and Dijon, the holder of the trophy.

It is necessarily frustrating to have lived a one-way final, but if the Burgiens were unable to deploy their well polished game and to put in position their shooters, it is undoubtedly a little for having succumbed to the famous pressure which surrounds this type of event, but especially to the made-in-Euroleague intensity put by ASVEL, which benefited from a five-star Nando De Colo (20 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists). Spiritual leader of ASVEL during the three days of competition and still in the final, Nando De Colo (1.95 m, 35 years) was logically elected MVP of the Leaders Cup. He can enjoy his first title under the colors of Villeurbanne.

T.J. Parker, ASVEL coach : “(This title) is all about defense. We saw it yesterday, we did the same thing today. However, they were very strong offensively with an average of 95 points over the last five games while shooting 52% from 3-point range. We did what we wanted to do, we didn’t let anything go by. We were really dominant. It was a very big performance. Experience makes the difference in these kinds of games. We have great, experienced players, they know how to win finals.”

Nando De Colo : “A leadership role is a big word, I think. I don’t think there were many people who saw us going all the way. We knew it was a special competition. As T.J. said earlier, we had a very tough start to the season but we’re not giving up. For my part, I try to show the example every day, to be in contact with my teammates and the coaching staff so that the team improves day by day. We said things well before this competition. Everyone wants to make an effort for the collective, and that’s the most important thing.”