AS Monaco Basketball fell short against Olympiakos in a tightly contested EuroLeague clash, with a strong second-half surge from the Greek side sealing the defeat of their Roca Team rivals.
AS Monaco Basketball suffered an 80-89 defeat against Olympiakos on Wednesday 4th December at home in the Salle Gaston Médecin, marking new Head Coach Vassilis Spanoulis’ first game in Monaco since taking on the job in November.
Despite a strong first-half showing, the Roca Team struggled to maintain momentum in the second half, allowing the Greek side to capitalise on key opportunities and secure their victory.
Monaco’s Alpha Diallo delivered an impressive performance, finishing as the game’s top scorer with 21 points, but his efforts were not enough to overcome a resilient Olympiakos team led by Shaquielle McKissic and Evan Fournier.
“It’s always disappointing to lose at home,” said Head Coach Spanoulis, who once played for Olympiakos. “We played well in the first half, but they caused us more problems after the break. Against a team like Olympiakos, once they gain confidence with their shooting, it becomes difficult to respond.”
The Greek tactician was without several key players, including Nick Calathes, Mam Jaiteh and Furkan Korkmaz, which limited Monaco’s options on the court.
The opening stages were closely contested, with both teams trading baskets in front of a sold-out crowd. Monaco managed to edge ahead briefly in the second quarter, thanks to contributions from Georgios Papagiannis, who added 11 points, and Jaron Blossomgame, who scored 12. However, Olympiakos relied on consistent three-point shooting to stay in contention.
“We need to be better prepared to face teams like Olympiakos,” Spanoulis added. “They’re solid across all positions, and tonight they made the difference with their defensive adjustments and accuracy in crucial moments.”
Olympiakos pulled away in the final quarter, and while Monaco pushed back with efforts from Mike James, Matthew Strazel and Diallo, the visitors’ defensive discipline ultimately prevented any meaningful comeback.
The loss leaves AS Monaco with little time to regroup, as they are set to host Alba Berlin on Friday 6th December.
“Losing is tough, but we’ve got to focus on the next game,” said Diallo. “There’s still a long season ahead, and we’ll come back stronger.”
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Photo source: AS Monaco Basketball