AS Monaco have clinched a top-four EuroLeague finish with a hard-fought win over ASVEL, securing home-court advantage for the play-offs.

With a 78-83 victory in Villeurbanne on Thursday 10th April, AS Monaco Basketball wrapped up their EuroLeague regular season by locking in a top-four spot. The result not only confirmed their place in the quarter-finals but also guaranteed the Roca Team home-court advantage in the upcoming best-of-five series.

The Roca Team had already qualified for the playoffs earlier in the evening following Bayern Munich’s defeat. However, the away win at Astroballe ensured Monaco finished the regular season in fourth place.

Head coach Vassilis Spanoulis praised his side’s performance: “We showed character, we were playing to win this game, quite simply. That’s what had to be done. I want to congratulate my team, we managed to finish 4th to benefit from the advantage of the field.”

In a closely contested match, Monaco held a seven-point lead after the first quarter but struggled to maintain momentum in the second half. ASVEL, who had already been eliminated from the competition, briefly took the lead in the third quarter through free throws. The two sides were level heading into the final 10 minutes.

Mike James, who led Monaco with 20 points and seven assists, proved decisive in the closing stages. He converted three crucial free throws in the final minute to edge Monaco ahead and seal the result.

“We had to win to have the advantage of the field, it’s done,” said James. “We have steps before the play-offs, but we are proud of ourselves with all these years and the play-off qualifiers at the end.”

Jordan Loyd added, “We played pretty well in the last few minutes with consistency. We made mistakes sometimes, but we were able to show character. The play-offs? This is the goal of the season, and we are all ready for this stage.”

This marks Monaco’s fourth consecutive qualification for the EuroLeague playoffs. The team will play the first two games of the quarter-final series at home, with a potential fifth game also on their court if needed. The identity of their opponent will be determined by the final standings.

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Photo source: AS Monaco Basketball