AS Monaco Basketball came agonisingly close to a EuroLeague victory against Bayern Munich on Wednesday night, losing by just one point to the German side.
The game started poorly for Monaco, who struggled to contain Bayern’s relentless three-point shooting at their home court in the SAP Garden.
The hosts raced to a commanding 30-13 lead in the first quarter, capitalising on Monaco’s defensive lapses to gain control of the game. By halftime, the Principality side had made some ground, clawing back to within 13 points (53-40), thanks to an inspired performance by Mike James and a determined team effort.
The second half saw a transformed Monaco side, with Terry Tarpey, Matthew Strazel and Mam Jaiteh leading the charge against the German team.
A crucial offensive rebound from Jaiteh gave Monaco their first lead of the game with just over a minute left to play (90-88). However, Bayern’s Shabazz Napier scored a decisive three-pointer in the final seconds to restore the German side’s advantage. Monaco had one last chance to snatch victory, but Bayern’s Nick Weiler-Babb delivered a masterful defensive play to deny James a clear shot, sealing a narrow win for the hosts.
In his post-game comments, Head Coach Vassilis Spanoulis reflected on the team’s performance with mixed emotions, saying, “You can’t win a game starting like that. I’m proud of what we showed in the second half, but everything was decided in the first quarter.”
What’s next?
With just 48 hours between the Bayern game and another away fixture in the EuroLeague, this time in Belgrade versus Red Star, AS Monaco will need to regroup and refocus quickly.
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Photo source: AS Monaco Basketball
