Roca Team dethrone Spanish giants in Euroleague classic

12/12/2022

A victory against Real Madrid (94-95), the most decorated European team, marked another landmark in the meteoric rise of the Roca Team. The face of that rise, American Mike James, proved decisive once again.

James (28 points, three rebounds and three assists) helped keep Monaco in the tie, with Monaco under the cosh for large periods. The American point-guard has assumed the role as the face of this AS Monaco Basketball revolution, and more often than not, he lives up to the billing.

The Roca Team were led for long periods of the encounter on Thursday 8th December, but Real Madrid, 10-time Euroleague champions, 36-time champions of Spain, and on a six-game winning streak, never made the break.

In their previous four meetings against the Spanish giants, Monaco had failed to win, but they would have caught a scent of victory in the third quarter as they took the lead (62-65). However, Real Madrid’s response was emphatic, the Spanish side three-pointing their way into an eight-point lead (78-70).

Sasa Obradovic’s men had an uphill task to fight their way back into the tie, but they did. With just four seconds on the clock, James stepped back outside the arc, landing his three-pointer and drawing a foul in the process. The American converted his free-throw to take the game to overtime.

In a low-scoring overtime period, it was ultimately a James free-throw that proved the difference, as Monaco held on in the dying seconds to secure a historic and memorable victory (94-95).

The man of the moment, James, reflected on the victory post-match: “It’s always huge to win here against this Real Madrid team. We have to keep it in our heads for the future.”

Roca Team defeat closest rival Boulogne-Levallois in overtime

Trailing for the vast majority of Sunday 11th December’s evening game in Paris, Obradovic’s side, led by Elie Okobo (28 points), pulled off a fourth-quarter comeback before securing the win with a dominant overtime display.

All eyes were on Victor Wembanyama, the prospect backed to be the top pick at the NBA drafts next season, and the Frenchman helped his side into an early lead (13-5). Wembanyama, whose sister plays for the Monaco Basket Association (MBA), was a major offensive arm for Boulogne Levallois throughout the tie (27 points, 11 rebounds and three assists), but after a sluggish start, the Roca Team fought back.

Having incrementally eaten into the home side’s 13-point lead, Monaco were in striking distance by “money time” and with two consecutive Okobo T3s, the Principality side took the lead for the first time in the encounter (75-76). However, a Boulogne-Levallois free-throw took the game to overtime.

James, who had the chance to win the match in the fourth-quarter, then came to the fore, complementing the playmaking efforts of Okobo in an exhibition of offensive and defensive prowess. Obradovic’s side were completely untouchable in the five minute period, winning overtime 6-19 and taking the overall victory (82-95).

Monaco are now comfortably top of the Betclic Elite. They have two wins more than both Dijon and Sunday’s opponent Boulogne-Levallois, although both sides have one game in hand.

“After a big victory in Madrid, it is good to back it up here against a great Boulogne-Levallois side,” said Obradovic post-match. A difficult month for the Roca Team has got off to the perfect start, but there is little let up with a Euroleaue double-header at the Salle Gaston Médecin this week (Barcelona on Wednesday and Alba Berlin on Friday).

Photo by AS Monaco Basket

Golden Foot: Will it be Messi’s turn to win the prestigious award?

by: Luke Entwistle

12/12/2022

While the eyes of the footballing world are still firmly fixed on the World Cup in Qatar, Monaco is getting ready to host the Golden Foot, with Lionel Messi among the nominees to succeed Mohamed Salah.

The World Cup only concludes 18th December, but just three days later, the stars of the sport will descend on the Principality, with one of those stars making a literal mark in history by having their foot printed on the Promenade des Champions in Monaco.

The 20th edition of the award, to be held in the Grimaldi Forum on 21st December, was moved to later in the year due to the ongoing tournament in Qatar. Initially an event that was held in early November, it was moved to late November in 2021 (the winners are pictured above) in order to coincide with the awarding of the Ballon d’Or in Paris. Now to late December in 2022.

Legends of the game such as Juan Sebastien Veron will be present at the event as will Turkey manager Fatih Térim, with the work of both individuals set to be recognised. The largest question remains: who will succeed Salah as the winner of the prestigious Golden Foot award?

As always, there is a star-studded list of nominees. Miraculously, Messi has never won the award. Voting for the winner has now closed and therefore the outcome of his World Cup campaign with Argentina won’t be a factor in deciding whether he finally gets his hand – or foot – on the award.

Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema is also considered to be a favourite. The Frenchman won the 2022 Ballon d’Or after a string of incredible performances that guided his team to the Champions League title.

Harry Kane, Gareth Bale, Robert Lewandowski, Sadio Mané and many others are also nominated for the award.

Photo source: Golden Foot

Christmas at the Hôtel Métropole

by: Jessica Tatam

09/12/2022

Monaco’s glamourous Hôtel Métropole has planned a series of Christmas events and offerings for December 2022, each designed to exemplify the opulence and elegance for which the hotel is best known.

Since its construction in 1886, the Hôtel Métropole in the central Monte-Carlo district of Monaco has been widely renowned as a luxurious and exclusive destination. Priding itself as being a “worldly and elegant hotel” while also “a refuge offering relaxation and intimacy”, this is the place to go for luxury and indulgence at any time of the year, but particularly at Christmas.

Upon entering the hotel lobby, the wonderful display of Christmas decorations immediately dazzles the senses. From the enormous fir tree in the lobby to the baubles and teddy bears scattered throughout, all in warm brown, gold, and caramel tones, the display exudes a joyous Christmas ambience that permeates every part of the five-star establishment.

Children who are guests at the hotel will have the chance to meet Father Christmas in the Lobby Bar on Saturday 24th December from 5pm to 7pm as well as take part in a Christmas craft workshop where they will come away with a handmade wreath garnished with beautiful decorations to take home. On New Year’s Eve, a second workshop to make a travel piggy bank will be held. Both the Christmas and New Year’s workshops, for children aged four to 12, include delicious snacks prepared by Patrick Mesiano, the hotel’s talented pastry chef.

From 3pm until 6pm every day, guests can enjoy a sumptuous afternoon tea at the Lobby Bar with a selection of sweet and savoury treats on offer. For an extra Christmas touch, why not pair it with the signature cocktail of the season, the Flaming Marshmallow. This divine combination of vodka mixed with strawberry, raspberry and marshmallow flavours comes topped with a flaming marshmallow for maximum effect. The Jazzy Evenings programme will conclude during the month of December, with the final shows performed by international singer and pianist Jany McPherson during the evenings of Wednesday 14th and Thursday 15th from 7pm until 11pm.

To round out the list of seasonal events, diners at the New Year’s Eve dinner will be transported to the Belle Epoque. A formal seven-course meal will consist of specially concocted themed courses inspired by French gastronomy while the cabaret-style entertainment promises magic, sensuality, feathers and sequins… An unforgettable celebration and welcoming of the New Year!

In addition to the onsite events, guests are also invited to visit the hotel spa for a collection of Christmas-inspired treatments as well as the chance to win a prize with the spa’s advent calendar. For those wanting a memorable party-time delicacy to accompany their festivities, an eye-catching Cazette yule log dessert, developed by Executive Chef Cristophe Cussac in partnership with Pastry Chef Patrick Mesiano, is available to order from 12th December 12th. The mouth-watering dessert hides “a treasure of sweetness” within crispy praline and sparkling orange peel.

For more information, please visit the hotel’s website.

Photo source: Hôtel Métropole/Facebook

Roca Team do the double over ASVEL thanks to attacking masterclass

by: Luke Entwistle

07/12/2022

AS Monaco Basketball stunned Lyon-Villeurbanne with a first-quarter frenzy on their way to beating their nemesis twice in the space of a week (97-78) and moving top of the Betclic Elite in the process.

Due to Boulogne-Levallois’ defeat, Sasa Obradovic’s men take top spot in the domestic championship with 10 wins in just 12 matches, the only defeats coming against Limoges and Dijon.

Mike James was imperious on the night, scoring 19 points in the first half (26 points in total and six assists) as Monaco stormed into an early and unassailable advantage. With an 18-point lead after the first 10 minutes (33-15), ASVEL couldn’t muster a response, and Monaco simply managed the game out. A semblance of a response was evident on the return from the dressing rooms, but nothing of the proportions necessary to overhaul such a deficit.

Obradovic’s men then responded in the final quarter, reversing ASVEL’s advances, and securing a fifth successive victory. Lyon-Villeurbanne meanwhile, are on a dreadful streak of eight defeats in nine matches. At this moment in time, they don’t look like Monaco’s biggest challenger for the domestic title, as they were last year.

“The players showed big motivation. Having just one day to prepare for this match isn’t easy, as it will be for almost the entire month of December. From entering the court, we applied the right defensive aggression and that allowed us to increase our lead quickly with a transition game. James was very focused and was our guide tonight,” said Obradovic post-match.

The Roca Team is traversing a difficult month. The players face a trip to the Spanish capital to face Real Madrid on Thursday, before meeting their closest challenger in the Betclic Elite, Boulogne-Levallois on Sunday.

Photo by AS Monaco Basket

MEB Awards champion “spirit of innovation” in Monaco

by: Elsa Carpenter

05/12/2022

At a ceremony last week, the collaborative Club Eco Monaco awards of the Monaco Economic Board and Nice-Matin group handed out seven gongs to the 2022 laureates.

The 11th edition of the Club Eco Monaco Awards took place at the Grimaldi Forum’s Salle Camille Blanc on 29th November in the presence of numerous Monegasque dignitaries and decision makers from Minister of State Pierre Dartout and Minister for Economy and Finance Jean Castellini to President of the National Council Brigitte Boccone-Pagès.

It was a moment in the spotlight for each of the seven 2022 winners, who were individually welcomed to the stage by CEO of the Monaco Economic Board (MEB) Guillaume Rose. After receiving their award, the dynamic collection of entrepreneurs and professionals were interviewed live by the editor-in-chief of the Nice-Matin group, Christian Huault.

The 2022 winners

The Sustainable Development Trophy went to Sylvia Ratkowski and Pierre Magnes of FGWRS, a start-up that began thanks to the support of MonacoTech and has created a grey water recycling system recently adopted by the European Space Agency.

The International Trophy rewarded the Forté Pharma laboratory, a specialist in food supplements that has grown exponentially over the last few years following massive development outside of Monaco. The award was given to its dedicated export director, Cédric Rinaudo.

The Made in Monaco gong went to Les Perles de Monte-Carlo and its founders Brice Cachia and Frédéric Rouxeville, who have worked tirelessly to create the first ever oyster nursery in the Mediterranean. Their home-produced seafood can be found on menus across the Principality’s spread of high-end restaurants.

The Special Jury Prize was awarded to the International University of Monaco and its Managing Director Jean-Philippe Muller who, for the past decade, has developed the campus into a world class destination for international students and teaching staff.

The International Standing Trophy was awarded to the Scientific Center of Monaco, a vibrant organisation at the forefront of countless inspirational projects.

The Manager of the Year Trophy went to Jean-Victor Pastor who, among his other business activities, has established the Maya Collection of restaurants both in Monaco and further afield.

The final award of the night, the Innovation Trophy, was awarded to the three founders of Carlo: Antoine and Armand Bahri and Marta Mas Portas. This well-known mobile app gives customers in partner shops and boutiques cashback on their purchases. It has been widely adopted across the Principality.

Monaco: a place for businesses to flourish and succeed

Launched in 2012, over 70 innovative companies and individuals who have “found in Monaco, the conditions to flourish and succeed” – the words of MEB President Michel Dotta – have now won one of these prestigious awards.

“The [2022] winners illustrate the richness and diversity of the Monegasque ecosystem,” said the MEB in a statement following the event, while the managing director of the Nice-Matin group, Jean-Louis Pelé, said the awards “highlighted the dynamism, creativity and spirit of innovation” in Monaco.

Photo source: MEB/Carte Blanche

Prince Albert II to visit Paris for Albert I centenary

by: Elsa Carpenter

02/12/2022

Prince Albert II will visit Paris next week to round out the year of centenary celebrations in honour of his namesake, Monaco’s Prince Albert I, the Explorer Prince.

A year of events to mark 100 years since the death of Prince Albert I will conclude on 6th and 7th December with a visit by Prince Albert II to Paris, the birth and death place of his illustrious great-grandfather.

Paris was dear to the Explorer Prince’s heart, and the work started there has lived on in the Principality.

“It was in the French capital that he carried out tireless political, diplomatic and scientific activity, notably through the creation of two foundations: the Oceanographic Institute and the Human Palaeontology Institute,” said the Palais Princier in a recent communiqué.

On 6th December, the Prince will unveil a plaque at 10 Avenue du President Wilson, the Parisian home of Prince Albert I, followed by a tribute at the Trocadero Gardens on Avenue Albert Ier de Monaco, which was named on 22nd January 1932 by the Council of Paris.

In the afternoon, at the Institut de France, a special session of the Academy of Sciences led by Chancellor Xavier Darcos will be dedicated to Prince Albert I and then it will be on to a bust unveiling, donated by Prince Albert II to the Institute, and the presentation of the archives of the Academy of Sciences on Albert I.

The 7th December begins with the Prince touring the Maison Zola-Musée Dreyfus, in Médan in the Yvelines, a nod to Albert I’s support of both Dreyfus and Zola in their times of need.

To round out the day, Érik Orsenna from the French Academy will give a lecture entitled Science at the Service of Humanity: Prince Albert I of Monaco and his work.

It will take place at UNESCO, which is associated with the centenary commemorations. There the Prince will be joined by the director general of USECO, Audrey Azoulay.

Photo source: Palais Princier de Monaco