A heavily depleted AS Monaco Basketball got their Betclic Elite title defence off to a winning start against Limoges (72-59) on Saturday. 

Mam Jaiteh, Donta Hall, Yoan Makoundou and Donatas Motiejunas were all absent from the opener. Without any of their natural pivots, the Roca Team were forced to improvise against Limoges.

Until the return of some of their stars, Monaco will have to make do, and whilst Saturday’s performance was imperfect, it bodes well for the rest of the season. Jaron Blossomgame, who became increasingly influential towards the end of the last campaign, registered an impressive performance (13 points, seven rebounds, four assists).

“We have things to clean-up”

Monaco never looked troubled with Limoges kept at arm’s length, even despite the fervent home support that pushed their team throughout. “We won the game tonight, but we have things to clean up, for sure,” said Blossomgame.

As players return from injuries, illnesses, and breaks, the Roca Team will be back to full strength soon. “We just need to get used to being back with these guys, get the rhythm back, get the chemistry back, but that shouldn’t take too long at all,” added Blossomgame.

Exactly how many players will be back for next week’s trip to Chalon-sur-Saône is unclear, but the hope, and likely the expectation, is for Monaco to be close to full strength when they welcome Saint-Quentin to the Salle Gaston Médecin on Tuesday 26th September.

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Photo by AS Monaco Basketball