AS Monaco Basketball have gotten the new year off to a flying start with a hard-fought 105-90 victory over Alba Berlin. Despite key players being sidelined due to injuries and illness, the squad proved itself resilient and determined, earning the Roca Team a deserved EuroLeague victory that maintains the side’s position at the top of the rankings.
Heading into the game at Berlin’s Uber Arena on Thursday 2nd January, Head Coach Vassilis Spanoulis knew the team would be facing a significant challenge. With the team depleted—Alpha Diallo recovering from injury while Terry Tarpey, Mam Jaiteh, and Petr Cornelie were all ill—the remaining players needed to rally, and rally they did.
The team made a blistering start to the away fixture. Mike James led the charge, ably supported by Matthew Strazel and Donatas Motiejunas, and Monaco raced to a 30-21 lead by the end of the first quarter. The second quarter saw the Roca Team extend their advantage further, with Strazel hitting crucial three-pointers and Elie Okobo impressing with his drives to the basket. By halftime, the Monaco side had built a commanding 20-point cushion.
Alba Berlin push back
The second half, however, was far from straightforward. Alba Berlin, led by Tim Schneider and Sterling Thomas, cut Monaco’s lead to just six points late in the fourth quarter as Monaco’s defense faltered.
Spanoulis called for calm during a timeout, and his team responded. James delivered a vital three-pointer, and Jaron Blossomgame’s late contributions helped secure the victory for Monaco.
Reflecting on the game, Spanoulis acknowledged his team’s second-half struggles but praised their resilience, saying, “Offensively and defensively, we relaxed too much in the second half and were a bit naïve against an Alba team with nothing to lose. But we showed character and secured an important win in the end.”
Strazel, who added 18 points to the score, emphasized the need for defensive improvements, noting, “There are things to work on, especially defensively in the second half, but offensively, we shared the ball well and found more solutions. That’s something to build on.”
EuroLeague standings tighten
With this win, AS Monaco Basketball maintains their position at the top of the EuroLeague standings, tied with Olympiacos.
The Roca Team will now look to build on this momentum as they prepare for their next challenge, knowing that consistency will be key in their quest for European glory.
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Photo source: AS Monaco Basketball