The Roca Team dominated Dijon thanks to their physical and technical superiority, despite a good comeback by Justin Bibins. The Dijon team responded after halftime, but Elie Okobo and Alpha Diallo ensured a Monegasque victory that was never truly threatened.
The duel between AS Monaco Basket and JDA Dijon Basket could have suggested an unbalanced matchup on paper: the leader against the twelfth. However, some elements nuanced this assessment. Dijon recovered Justin Bibins, while Monaco had to deal with a slightly reduced roster due to physical issues.
Right from the start, the Monegasques imposed their rhythm and displayed the expected demeanor of a serious contender. The intensity was there, as was the control. In turn, Matthew Strazel, Elie Okobo, and Alpha Diallo attacked the Dijon defense, constantly putting it under pressure. On the other side, Dijon tried to survive by relying on their outside shooting, the only real weapon to respond to the opponent’s domination.
The return of Justin Bibins provided an undeniable boost. He brought cohesion to the Dijon game and helped to limit the damage somewhat. But despite this, the gap gradually widened. The Roca Team rolled, and Dijon suffered. At halftime, +19: the match seemed already well underway, almost sealed.
Dijon did not give up
After returning from the locker room, Dijon showed a completely different face. More aggression, more precision. Carried by a Justin Bibins in great form and a good three-point shooting performance, the Dijon team gradually chipped away at their deficit. While they never truly threatened Monaco, they at least managed to slightly rekindle interest in the match.
In this context, Matthew Strazel became more discreet, but Alpha Diallo continued his strong work on both ends of the court. And above all, Elie Okobo took his responsibilities at the right time to calm the opponent’s hopes and definitively seal the outcome of the game.
In a perfectly managed ending by Monaco, the coach rotated his key players. The Roca Team finished comfortably without ever being worried. A controlled victory once again beyond the hundred-point mark (108-95), serious, in a match that was largely one-sided despite a small Dijon resurgence.
The Roca Team confirms their status: even with a few absences like Mike James or players slightly hindered, the roster remains largely superior in talent and depth. The team knows how to accelerate when needed, manage its weak moments, and immediately punish the opponent’s mistakes. Dijon, for its part, can retain the reaction in the second half and the immediate impact of Bibins, but the physical and defensive deficit remains too significant against this type of opponent.
Now, the real test is coming. Monaco will need to show the same seriousness and intensity in the EuroLeague with an important meeting hosting ASVEL Villeurbanne on Wednesday, April 8th at 7:30 PM. A well-known opponent, in a much more significant clash for Monaco’s season.
Statistics of the Game
Roca Team
Elie Okobo: 23 points on 9/10 shooting (3/4 free throws)
Alpha Diallo: 29 points on 8/14 shooting (10/11 free throws)
Dijon
Justin Bibins: 24 points on 9/13 shooting (1/1 free throws).
