On Tuesday evening, the Roca Team faced a stronger opponent in the first match of these Betclic Élite playoff semi-finals. Vassilis Spanoulis’s men were defeated by 20 points. Tactically outplayed, Monaco also committed too many fouls to hope for a win in this first game.
After defeating Le Mans in three games during the quarter-finals, the Roca Team traveled to Lyon to face ASVEL in the Betclic Élite playoff semi-finals. Monaco is chasing a fourth consecutive final. The Lyon club, on the other hand, hasn’t reached this stage of the competition since its victory in 2022. They had also defeated Monaco. A high-tension clash. Notably, Mike James was absent from the Roca Team, suspended for a disciplinary incident. Mam Jaiteh, Elie Okobo, Alpha Diallo, Matthew Strazel, and Jaron Blossomgame composed the starting five for the Monégasques.
Complicated start for Monaco
Monaco starts its match poorly. Turnovers by Elie Okobo, two fouls by Mam Jaiteh. The errors are on the principality’s side. Vassilis Spanoulis’s players are penetrated on defense. After five minutes of play, ASVEL leads by eight points (15-7).
Lyon-Villeurbanne gives nothing to Monaco. The defense is tight, blocking Matthew Strazel’s offensives, forcing him to take difficult three-point shots. The Roca Team has no solution in this first quarter.
Monaco still struggles to come back at the end of the first ten minutes. Their defense is penetrated. At the end of the first act, the Roca Team is trailing by ten points. The Monégasques have conceded 31 points (31-21), indicating a lackluster defense. Monaco’s seven turnovers also favored Lyon’s strong moments.
A Roca Team struggling to come back into contact
The beginning of the second quarter is better for Monaco. After two minutes of play, the Monégasques are on a seven-point streak without conceding any. They have regained their intensity. ASVEL, however, does not weaken. They continue to attack, taking advantage of the Monégasques’ few inaccuracies. At halftime, ASVEL leads by four points (49-45). Monaco cannot fully get into its semi-final.
The start of the third quarter is rough for the recent Euroleague losers. Three fouls in just one minute for Monaco. ASVEL continues to challenge the Roca Team, which still struggles to come back into contact. The Lyonnais put more impact while Monaco is frustrated with the refereeing. Vassilis Spanoulis even receives a technical foul. At the whistle, ASVEL leads (68-58). Monaco has ten minutes left to turn the game around.
A final quarter that underscores ASVEL’s dominance
Monaco struggles at the start of the last quarter. ASVEL presses where it hurts. Another foul for the Monégasques: Terry Tarpey, barely entered, commits an unsporting foul. Lyon reaches a 19-point lead (80-61) six minutes before the end of the game. Monaco is out of sorts, without solutions.
The Roca sinks in the final seconds and is heavily defeated with a score of (94-74). Thanks to an exemplary defense, ASVEL managed to bend the Monégasques, who missed their game. “We gave up too many rebounds, we were bad. We know what we have to do because we often play against ASVEL, we must rectify the defense for the game in two days,” said Jordan Loyd at the end of the match.
Next appointment Thursday evening for the second semi-final, still in Lyon. No more room for mistakes for Monaco. Otherwise, it’s elimination.
