AS Monaco Basket players and fans have had a busy few days, with games in the EuroLeague and the French Betclic Elite that have seen them travel to Milan and then northern France.
It began with a promising win against EA7 Emporio Armani Milan on 2nd November at the Mediolanum Forum in Milan, where the Roca Team claimed their fourth straight win in the EuroLeague.
It was a tough game and both teams struggling offensively. Milan took an early 8-0 lead, leading to AS Monaco’s coach, Sasa Obradovic, calling for a timeout to regroup.
Monaco gradually found their rhythm, with Alpha Diallo’s mid-range jumper marking their first points, and by halftime, it was almost equal at 35-37.
The third quarter saw both teams dealing with trouble, but AS Monaco surged ahead, taking a 39-37 lead. Mike James, who had a slow start, reached a career milestone with 250 steals, and sealed the game with a vital three-pointer, securing a 72-66 victory for AS Monaco.
AS Monaco looks to rebound after stumbling in Betclic Elite
AS Monaco’s previously stellar record in the Betclic Elite faced a formidable challenge when they clashed with SLUC Nancy Basket on 4th November in a second away fixture.
Despite their resilience, the game saw the Roca Team’s unbeaten streak come to a halt with a final score of 86-94 and Nancy as victors.
Again, Mike James was perhaps the most prolific player on the court for AS Monaco, while John Brown, Élie Okobo, Matthew Strazel, Jordan Loyd, Jaron Blossomgame, Yakuba Ouattara, Donta Hall and Petr Cornelie all played vital roles.
But AS Monaco’s 31 field goals out of 68 attempts and eight three-pointers out of 27 clearly showed their offensive struggle in the face of Nancy’s strong defence, and it simply wasn’t enough for a win.
Despite a lapse, AS Monaco remains a strong contender in the Betclic Elite, and the team will be ready to bounce back and deliver thrilling performances as the Betclic Elite season continues on 12th November against Nanterre.
The next fixture in the Euroleague will be on 10th November against ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne.
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Photo credit: AS Monaco Basket