AS Monaco Basket secured its place in the next stage of the Betclic Elite playoffs on Wednesday 27th May, defeating JL Bourg-en-Bresse 114-103 in a noticeably more composed showing than Game 1. The Roca Team showed clear improvements in rebounding and shooting efficiency, allowing Monaco to remain in control for much of the night.
Game 2 saw a sharper Roca Team from the opening minutes. Monaco opened the scoring for the night and quickly began building their lead. Although Bourg remained within reach and momentum threatened to shift at times, Monaco’s improvements came into play early. By the end of the first quarter, Monaco had shot perfectly beyond the arc and already built a 10-point lead.
The second quarter followed a similar pattern as Monaco maintained control and continued building on their lead. One major improvement visible in this match was Monaco limiting Bourg’s second-chance opportunities. By halftime, the Roca Team found themselves comfortably leading Bourg 65-49.
However, the third quarter brought back familiar concerns for Monaco. With over 6 minutes remaining, Bourg had applied enough pressure to reduce the lead back to single digits. Tension was noticeably building across the court as Bourg capitalized on Monaco’s mistakes, but the Roca Team ultimately managed to pull through the difficult stretch and regain control.
As the game neared its end, Monaco rediscovered its rhythm and extended its lead once again. A stop-start final stretch filled with fouls slowed the pace, but Monaco ultimately remained in control to secure the victory.
Several Monaco players showed up in playoff performance form for Game 2. Jaron Blossomgame and Matthew Strazel each finished with 22 points, while Elie Okobo recorded a double-double with 21 points and 11 assists. Yoan Makoundou added 19 points, and Terry Tarpey contributed a double-double of his own with 11 points and 13 rebounds. This limited roster showed up for one another when it mattered most.
With this victory, Monaco officially moves on to the Betclic Elite semi-finals, where they will face Nanterre as the team continues its pursuit of another title.
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Photo credit: AS Monaco Basket