Solid, inspired and with rare mastery, Roca Team secured its place in the Betclic Élite semi-finals by decisively winning on Ekinox’s burning court (114-103). With only seven professional players, the Monégasques delivered an impressive collective performance, led by an irresistible quartet of Strazel–Blossomgame–Okobo–Makoundou. Next stop the final four, where Sergii Gladyr’s men will face Nanterre.
Monaco arrived in the Ain with a valuable advantage, acquired from the first leg (81-75), but also with real pressure: that of concluding the series without putting themselves in danger. Bourg-en-Bresse, seventh in the regular season and Eurocup winners, hoped to push Roca Team to a decisive game five. The Monégasques, meanwhile, had only one objective: avoid any scare and join Nanterre, conquerors of Le Mans.
With only seven professionals available following notably the refusal to play by their star Mike James, the task seemed arduous. But the Monégasque momentum, already noticeable on Monday, would quickly be confirmed.
From the opening minutes, Monaco displayed fluid, collective, aggressive basketball. Terry Tarpey grabbed three offensive rebounds, Elie Okobo delighted on offense, Matthew Strazel dictated the pace. After five minutes, ASM already led 18-10, Adam Mokoka being the only Breton to resist (eight of his team’s ten points).
Monégasque control confirmed as the minutes went by: Matthew Strazel punished from three-point range, Yoan Makoundou stopped a Bourg-en-Bresse run that had brought them within six points. Then the French point guard came to plant a flag at the buzzer to extend the lead 32-22. The tone is set.
Monaco rolled in the second quarter. Nemanja Nedovic brought his accuracy, Yoan Makoundou his rebounding activity and Jaron Blossomgame, who hasn’t been prominent lately, made a strong comeback tonight causing damage under the basket. The gap climbed to +21 after a brilliant transition by Yoan Makoundou. Bourg tried to react, but Roca Team kept control of every possession.
At halftime, the numbers spoke for themselves: 65-49.
Bourg reacts, Roca Team responds
The second half saw Bourg raise their game. Lindo and Kokila relaunched the machine for the home side. The gap fell below ten points 68-59 which seemed to inflame things and increase the pressure. But Roca Team did not panic.
Jaron Blossomgame and Elie Okobo first maintained the lead before Terry Tarpey hit a crucial three-pointer, then Elie Okobo delivered an MVP-worthy play: step-back, three-pointer to restore a ten-point advantage for the Principality team.
The rebounding battle became fierce, but Monaco held firm. Nemanja Nedovic and Matthew Strazel provided breathing room, Jaron Blossomgame reached the symbolic 20-point mark while Élie Okobo continued his festival. Five minutes from the end, ASM still led 97-85.
The closing moments confirmed Monégasque superiority. Nemanja Nedovic allowed Roca Team to surpass the 100-point mark, Terry Tarpey continued his shadow work with 13 rebounds and Matthew Strazel sealed the game with one final three-pointer (114-103).
In total, the quartet Strazel–Blossomgame–Okobo–Makoundou combined for 85 points. Terry Tarpey delivered a monumental double-double, and the team recorded 29 assists for 45 rebounds.
Heading to Nanterre for the semis
Monaco thus reaches the semi-finals, where Nanterre awaits them in a best-of-five series. The first two games will be held at Gaston-Médecin, Monday June 1st then Wednesday June 3rd. The objective is clear: continue this momentum and target the title. As Elie Okobo summed it up at the end of the match: “we want to finish the season on a good note all together. If we can go win a title and win everything in France, that would be a good thing.“
Roca Team answered the call. They will now have to confirm against a formidable opponent, but they proved tonight that they have the resources, talent and solidarity to go very far. The question remains whether they will have all their forces available…
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