This is what the protagonists had to say after the Round 31 showdown between Zalgiris Kaunas and LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne.
Post-game quotes: Zalgiris vs. ASVEL



LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne head coach TJ Parker:
"They made a comeback. I think we were controlling the game in the third quarter and after that, of course, like I said, they can always make a run. At least we kept our poise, came back in the fourth quarter, took the advantage and got the win. They [Okobo and Jones] helped us all season. We need them to be good like they were tonight and after that, we still need help from the bench players coming in, because we are going to need them in the long run.
"[Wembanyama] is a kid who listens. He wants to get better. It is not easy for him because he has his type of body. He has to get stronger, and he works every day really hard. He deserves the minutes he gets on the court and if he keeps listening the way he is, he will get more and more playing time. He is a guy I also trust to be at the end of the game. He is big for us."
Zalgiris Kaunas head coach Jure Zdovc:
"Congratulations to my colleague in ASVEL. We knew it would be a tough game. They don't fit against us, are very athletic, physical and I expected a tough game. Let's say that at first sight, one player decided the game. Okobo really made some clutch shots in the very important moment of the game. Those were tough shots, we were there, we can do a better job or not but these are the games we should win. It is something easy to play against big teams like Real and Barcelona but these are the teams you should beat to reach the playoffs.
"Wembanyama is a big guy in the '4' position. We knew that he would play at the '4' tonight because they miss some players in this position. We didn't prepare against him scoring one-on-one. He was on offensive rebounds, on some switching situations. He is really long. I knew it also from last year because I was in France and he was with Nanterre. If I am correct, he didn't punish us from three-point, but he can also shoot three-pointers."
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LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne forward Victor Wembanyama:
"It was really a collective job. We listened to the scouting, to the coach at halftime and he was really calm, really confident. I think we did a really great job collectively and I want to shout out at number 0, Elie Okobo, because he secured the game by himself. We did a great job the whole game collectively, but at the end of the game, it's him. I think it is just the natural course of things. I know it is just the beginning. I am really confident. I know this season hasn't been perfect, there were a lot of things we couldn't control, collectively and individually, but I know it is the natural way of things. It is going to be better and better."
LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne guard Elie Okobo:
"I feel like we could have won that game in the last minute. We had 2 turnovers, a charge and they made tough shots, but we stayed together, made great plays and played 40 minutes with a lot of energy at the defensive end. And it is a great win for us. I hope it is going to help us moving forward. I am confident with it and my teammates gave me confidence to take those shots. We found a way to have isolation with one of their defenders and I was able to make shots. But I feel like it is a team effort tonight, and it's great. It feels good to win on the road with this crazy crowd. It felt really good and we have a lot more games this week."