VILLEURBANNE (Pro A) - ASVEL coach Claude Bergeaud has warned his side not to lose focus in their last match of the regular season despite having already qualified to the Pro A quarter-finals.
ASVEL defeated Le Mans 89-60 on Tuesday night to snatch the fourth and final automatic qualification spot for the last eight.
"I don't know if this was our best match because it's always difficult to compare games but we showed our motivation," said Bergeaud.
"We were, however, not so good on the rebounds but we were there in other areas of the game.
"Now we are qualified directly for the quarter-finals. We have 10 days before they start and it's going to be long but it is out of question to rest on our laurels.
"We will take our last match with Paris BR seriously - it's not the time to feel doubtful about our potential."
The other three teams qualified to the last eight are leaders Pau-Orthez - who secured their top spot thanks to a 74-73 victory over Paris BR - as well as Nancy and defending champions Strasbourg.
Le Mans, for whom Tuesday's defeat was a fourth in five matches, will have to go through the play-offs if they are to make the quarter-finals.
"I am disappointed, especially because we started off the match really well," said coach Vincent Collet.
"But we are fragile and we proved it again. We conceded a disastrous 16-0 and then we were unable to bounce back.
"Physically we were exhausted.
"We have to pick ourselves up and do something about it. We have to qualify for the quarter-finals and I hope we will face ASVEL again then."
Gravelines-Dunkerque, Le Havre, Chalon-sur-Saone, Cholet, Dijon, Roanne and Bourg-en-Bresse will also feature in the play-offs for the final four quarter-final places.
PA Sports