Despite a valiant effort, AS Monaco Basket were defeated by EuroLeague 2023/24 runners-up Real Madrid in their pre-season friendly. Elie Okobo was on top form, scoring an impressive 21 points. 

The Roca Team knew that they were going to have a fight on their hands when it was announced that their fourth pre-season friendly would be against last season’s second-placed Real Madrid at an away game in Pontevedra, Spain on 11th September. Nevertheless, the players came prepared and gave it their all in the fast-paced fixture.  

The teams were well-matched, with little between them in terms of scores for most of the game. Whenever Real Madrid pulled ahead, an AS Monaco Basket player responded, ready to parry any major advance.  

See more: Preparations for the 2024/25 EuroLeague season well underway for AS Monaco Basket

At halftime, the Roca Team were five points behind, but they returned to the court revived and quickly took the lead. This rapid-fire exchanging of blows would be the theme of the game as Real Madrid soon countered to move four points ahead. Obradovic called a timeout to try to halt their momentum. 

Elie Okobo was in exceptional form, scoring 21 points in total, and the team relied heavily on him in the latter stages of the game. With just three minutes to go, Okobo brought the scores to a tie (69-69) before Real Madrid again took the lead after a questionable call against Jaron Blossomgame. 

As the clock began its countdown, Okobo equalised again (75-75), but Gabriel Deck’s buzzer-beater for Read Madrid brought the game to a dramatic finish. It was a victory for the Spanish side: 77-75. 

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Photo credit: AS Monaco Basket