Both of Monaco’s mainstream sports teams were away from the Principality over the weekend, with AS Monaco in the Grand Est to face off with RC Strasbourg and the Roca Team on court up north against BCM Gravelines-Dunkerque.
Under the watchful eyes of nearly 400 Monaco fans and the team’s president, Dmitry Rybolovlev, AS Monaco, who are currently in third place in France’s Ligue 1 standings, had pinned their hopes on continuing their march up the rankings, but the game against RC Strasbourg on 10th March proved challenging.
Though several opportunities to score presented themselves, there wasn’t a single conversion from either side during the entire first half of play. The second half wasn’t looking promising either until 73 minutes in when Maghnes Akliouche set up Eliesse Ben Seghir for a beautiful corner kick into the goal. It was the only one of the game.
“I saw Maghnes on the overlap, and it’s true that we have a lot of good connections, we feel quite good together,” said Ben Seghir, who was voted Man of the Match by AS Monaco fans. “In that moment, I knew where to position myself so that he could give me the ball. I looked, he passed [it to] me and I just had to finish!”
AS Monaco’s next game will be a home turf affair at the Stade Louis II on 17th March.
Close call for AS Monaco Basket
That same day saw the Roca Team take on BCM Gravelines-Dunkerque at the Stade des Flandres.
The side was down three key players, with Terry Tarpey, Petr Cornelie and Jordan Loyd all absent, but despite this handicap, the Rouges et Blancs took to the court with energy and determination.
The first quarter went reasonably well for the Roca Team, who came out ahead in the scoring, but they faltered in the second quarter, scoring only eight points against their opponents’ 22 and went into the locker room with an eight-point deficit.
But they came back out swinging and regained the lead with a brilliant third quarter showing and a solid fourth quarter. In the end – though far too close for comfort – the Roca Team squeaked out a win to beat the French side 68-72.
“We scared ourselves, but in the French championship, all the matches are difficult,” said Donatas Motiejunas. “Gravelines has good players and supportive fans. We had the necessary resources to be better in the second half and win. I’m happy with my guys.”
Alpha Diallo and John Brown III tied for the highest scores with 13 points apiece, and there were decent showings from Matthew Strazel and Mike James too, who each scored eight.
The next game will be a EuroLeague away fixture against Alba Berlin on 14th March.
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Roca Team’s Mike James crowned best scorer in Euroleague history
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Photo credit: AS Monaco