Roca Team fall short despite thrilling late comeback

AS Monaco Basketball came close to overturning a 19-point fourth-quarter deficit against Fenerbahçe, but their ultimate loss to the Turkish table-toppers (93-96) on Tuesday relegates them to fifth in the Euroleague. 

The result means that the Roca Team have now lost four of their last five fixtures in all competitions, after only losing once in their first 13. The Euroleague defeat followed a narrow loss against Limoges in the Betclic Elite (80-84) on Sunday.

The victory against Baskonia at the Salle Gaston Médecin on Friday looked to have stemmed Sasa Obradovic’s side’s negative spiral, but in this tight run of fixtures, the Principality side have come once again unstuck.

Tuesday’s match at the Salle Gaston Médecin was no easy fixture. Fenerbahçe have been imperious so far this season, and they showed why in the early stages. Monaco had little response to their attacking efforts as the Turkish visitors won the first two-quarters (18-21, 20-24).

Monaco were, however, still within striking distance. That changed in the third quarter. As was the case throughout the match, Monaco found success in the attacking phases but were helpless to bleeding points at the other end. Going into the final quarter, Fenerbahçe had created a seemingly insurmountable 19-point lead (60-79).

What ensued was a crazy 10 minutes of basketball, which almost resulted in an improbable upset. Right from the start, the crowd were up, and a couple of early T3s provided the momentum to chase the Turkish side down. Having looked so fluid all night, Fenerbahçe were struggling at both ends and were helpless as they watched their mammoth lead slip away.

With just 12 seconds from the buzzer, Monaco were back within a point (93-94), but Obradovic’s men couldn’t find that crucial winner, and succumbed to consecutive defeats, despite their valiant fourth-quarter efforts.

“Fenerbahçe are probably the best team in Europe at the moment. We have to respect what we did in the final quarter in coming back from 19 points behind. We showed real character; it was a real spectacle for the fans. The season is long and we will learn from this kind of match,” said Obradovic post-match.

Looking to get their season back on track, Monaco welcome Bayern Munich to the Salle Gaston Médecin on the evening of Friday 25th November.

 

Photo by AS Monaco Basket

Maeght Foundation to undergo spectacular extension

If you wondered why the Maeght Foundation was closed to visitors earlier this year, here’s the answer: the eminent art institution is undertaking a vast remodelling project. 

The goal is to significantly expand the exhibition space at France’s “first independent art foundation”. With the guidance of architect Silvio d’Ascia, the extension will improve the visitor experience as well as “enrich the foundation’s programming by offering additional space for conferences, screenings, performance, seminars, and concerts”. It’s a smart choice and it should help the foundation, which will celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2024, diversify its revenue model. 

Currently offering 850m2, two new galleries will be added to the floorplan as well as one small interconnecting gallery and an introductory gallery that will lead to the Grande Salle; an additional 500m2 in total.  

There will be little impact to the original design of Josep Lluís Sert, the creative mind behind the existing architecture, as all expansion will cleverly take place at basement level, with the new spaces benefiting from the glorious natural light of the region via large windows that overlook the nearby pine forest. 

“The Fondation Marguerite and Aimé Maeght is neither a museum nor a gallery,” says chairman Adrien Maeght. “It was created by my family who wanted, from the start, to exhibit the artists we have always supported. What a joy to have new spaces. As soon as it opened, my parents planned to add galleries. This extension will make it possible to present the wealth of the Foundation’s collection that we couldn’t previously present.” 

Works are due to be completed in the 2024, allowing the renowned institution to reopen and celebrate its 60th anniversary in style.  

 

 

Photo source: Glamodrama for Silvio d’Ascia Archives/Fondation Maeght

Ducruet, Frolla and Coulthard join fight for an end to violence against women

With the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women coming up this Friday, three Monaco associations and three familiar faces are planning an event to show men and boys how they can make a real difference in helping end violence towards women.

Since 2008, the United Nations has championed the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women as a way to increase public awareness on the issues surrounding women’s safety, as well as to enlighten people to what an insidious problem it is.

2022 has been a complex year for women’s rights. Although a prominent topic in the news, steps backward have been taken, not least the shock United States’ Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade, which gave American women the right to choose in case of pregnancy.

In Monaco, the good fight continues, and three local organisations – Fight Aids Monaco and SheCanHeCan with the support of the Committee for the Promotion and Protection of Women’s Rights – are taking advantage of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women to inspire male allies.

These groups believe men and boys are the “central actors” in ending violence against women, and will set up a stand in the Fontvieille Shopping Centre on Thursday 24th November. From here, they will ask men of all ages to come and be photographed with powerful anti-aggression messages. These messages will be posted on the associations’ social media accounts as well as on Clear Channel all day on Friday 25th November.

Ambassadors Louis Ducruet, Pierre Frolla and David Coulthard are hoping to collect over 200 portraits of men and boys who are willing to show that they stand against violence towards women.

Each man photographed will choose the message he wants to convey, from “A real man doesn’t hit a woman” to “I say NO to violence against women”. The participants will also be invited to take a Pledge for Equality.

“This initiative, launched in 2019, aims to encourage the local population to act daily to make equality a reality,” said the SheCanHeCan association via a communiqué.

For further information, please visit www.shecanhecan.org.

 

 

Photo source: Ashkan Forouzani for Unsplash