For their second Euroleague match, the Roca Team easily defeated Dubai Basketball with a 22-point lead (103-81). After a close first half, Vassilis Spanoulis’s men extended their lead after halftime and showcased a well-drilled team effort.
This evening, Monaco hosted a brand new Euroleague club at Gaston Médécin, Dubai Basketball, where former Monaco player Mam Jaiteh now plays. The match was expected to be challenging against a team unfamiliar to the general public but not lacking in talented players.
After the defeat against Lithuania’s Zalgiris Kaunas on the first day of the Euroleague on Wednesday, October 1st, Vassilis Spanoulis’s men needed to bounce back to avoid falling behind in the rankings so early in the competition.
An Even First Half
In a packed venue, Monaco started the game hesitantly, much like the opposing team. The first five minutes of the match were marked by passing errors and few points scored. However, the pace quickly picked up on both sides. While the Roca Team began to find its comfort zone in the opponent’s key, Dubai responded well and managed to answer Monaco’s baskets. Both teams were scoring.
Midway through the first quarter, Monaco slightly distanced Jurica Golemac’s men by leading by five points (18-13). Nevertheless, Dubai stayed in the game. Unlike the match against Kaunas, Monaco committed few defensive mistakes, which made it difficult for the Dubai players. Mike James and company could also rely on noteworthy accuracy from long-range shots (4/6 for three-pointers in the first quarter). However, the first ten minutes remained balanced, with the two teams only separated by three points at the end of the first quarter (26-23).
In the second quarter, Monaco and Dubai continued to eye one another. The pace accelerated, but no clear advantage emerged for either team. Monaco could count on a Nikola Mirotic in great form, scoring points and drawing valuable fouls in the paint, but there was always an opposing player ready to close the gap on the scoreboard.
Just before halftime, Monaco’s defense became less precise, resulting in conceding a few more points. As a result, the Roca Team didn’t achieve a clear lead on the scoreboard despite having a superior duel. (50-46) at halftime in favor of Monaco. Very high attacking prowess but also 46 points conceded, which is too much for Vassilis Spanoulis’s players.
Monaco Widens the Gap in the Third Quarter
On return from the locker room, Monaco restarted quickly, almost leaving Dubai behind. In four minutes, the Monegasques took a nearly ten-point lead (64-54). The factor X, Daniel Theis, shifted this early second half in favor of his team.
Dubai increasingly lost possession, which served as offensive opportunities for the Roca Team. Golemac’s men were no longer in the game. Monaco led by fifteen points, totally cracking their opponent. Mike James and Nikola Mirotic almost did all the work by themselves. For Dubai, “air balls” followed one another, and nobody found a solution. At the end of the third quarter, Monaco was leading by twenty points (79-59). Monaco’s defense conceded only 13 points in this quarter alone.
A Golden Collective Performance
The last quarter was a collective showcase for Monaco. Elie Okobo combined with Nemanja Nedovic and the points piled up. Dubai was forced to take timeouts to catch their breath. On the bench, Mike James almost laughed, relaxed after thirty successful minutes.
The Monegasques also remained focused on defense, exemplified by Alpha Diallo who exerted great effort in recovering possessions. Monaco was untouchable, and their collective effort unmatched. With less than two minutes left in the match, Monaco even surpassed the hundred-point mark. A complete match for the Roca Team, following an intense second half with very few mistakes. Spanoulis’s men won the match with a score of 103 to 81, erasing the disappointment of the first day against Kaunas.
Next matchup is on Sunday against Chalon-sur-Saône in Betclic Elite, before returning to the Euroleague on Thursday, October 9th, with a challenging trip to Olimpia Milan.
