On June 24th, the Roca Team was defeated by Paris Basketball in game 5 of the Betclic Elite final. The Parisians won the French championship title for the first time in their history. A heavy fall for the Monacans, who were too often inconsistent in this series.
The fans dreamt of it, and the players delivered. A fifth game between Paris Basketball and the Roca Team. At stake, a French championship title. A third consecutive trophy for Monaco or the first for Paris. The Adidas Arena is packed and already singing loudly several minutes before the start of the match. Elie Okobo, Terry Tarpey, Alpha Diallo, Mam Jaiteh, and Matthew Strazel formed the starting five for Monaco, still without Mike James.
Paris takes the lead
One minute into the game, and there is already a first whistle from the referee. Like the previous match, it’s very physical. In this battle, it’s Paris Basketball that strikes first, with a mobile Nadir Hifi. The French player electrifies the arena after five points in two minutes. A six-point gap has opened in favor of Paris midway through the first quarter.
Tiago Splitter‘s men continue to disrupt the Monacans, who leave too much space in their defense. Despite Elie Okobo drawing fouls in the opponent’s paint, Paris leads by eight points at the end of the first quarter (29-21). Vassilis Spanoulis is displeased with his team’s defensive lapses.
A wild second quarter
In the second quarter, Monaco still cannot fix their defensive issues. The Monacans quickly fall apart. Plus seventeen points for Paris Basketball five minutes before halftime. But the Roca Team is resilient and combative. Matthew Strazel shows the way, refusing to give in: he doesn’t hesitate to pick up speed and score points. Within three minutes, the momentum has shifted. Monaco comes back to two points. The Roca Team has completely transformed in just a few seconds.
Three-point shots are flying from all sides. Monaco has nineteen in two quarters, well above their average. The final is heating up. Jordan Loyd continues to rise to make long-range shots. And the balls land in the basket. At halftime, both teams have surpassed fifty points. 54 to 50 in favor of Paris.
The Roca Team gains the upper hand
Returning from the locker room, a blow for Monaco: Jaron Blossomgame sits in civilian clothes in the stands, and will not return to the final. But Monaco can count on Terry Tarpey, who doesn’t hesitate to sacrifice his body to recover valuable balls. He’s the X factor in this game 5.
Tiago Splitter stops the game with a timeout four minutes before the end of the third quarter: Monaco leads by five points, the first time they’ve managed to create a small gap. In the final minutes of the third quarter, tempers flare. Fouls accumulate, and tension rises, especially between Matthew Strazel and TJ Shorts. The Monacan receives a technical foul for an altercation. After thirty minutes, the score is 73 to 81 in favor of Monaco.
In the early moments of the last quarter, everything ignites. TJ Shorts rises for a three-pointer. The ball goes in. The Adidas Arena erupts with chants of “MVP, MVP!” And Matthew Strazel returns to the court. The money time can begin. Less than ten minutes for a title.
A money time to determine the champion
With less than four minutes to go, both teams are tied (89-89). With less than two minutes left, Nadi Hifi gives Paris a three-point lead. Every basket is crucial in these last seconds. The atmosphere is unbearable.
With one minute left in the game, possession belongs to Paris. It’s a match point. Missed. Monaco recovers, but Jordan Loyd misses the shot to tie. In a counterattack, Paris scores and takes a five-point lead. Only sixteen seconds remain. Timeout called by Vassilis Spanoulis.
On the ensuing play, Matthew Strazel is forced to take a quick long-distance shot. It’s missed. At the same time, fans are already preparing to storm the court. Another timeout with ten seconds left before the final whistle, this time by Tiago Splitter. The Brazilian coach wants to organize his team properly.
Fouls follow one another in these last seconds, but nothing can change the situation: 99 to 93 for the Parisians. Paris Basketball is crowned champion of France for the first time in its history. Heroically, the Roca Team falls. Matthew Strazel and his teammates have given everything on the court of the Adidas Arena. “We lacked confidence. We had phases where we had the energy needed but phases where we didn’t have the confidence. We will have regrets. We’re exhausted, I don’t really know what to say. Congratulations to Paris,” explained Mam Jaiteh. It’s a trophyless season for Monaco, but one that leaves a lasting impression.
