Deprived of several key players, AS Monaco coached by Manuchar Markoishvili dominated Milan at Gaston-Médecin and remains in the race for a direct qualification to the quarter-finals. A victory built through reaction, patience, and constant commitment.
AS Monaco continues to advance in this dense and unpredictable Euroleague. The visit from Milan provided a new test, both physically and mentally, during a period where Monaco’s rotation is diminishing. Mike James and Nikola Mirotic are still absent. The Gaston-Médecin arena thus witnessed a tightened group, forced to cope with a limited roster (nine players) but determined.
The start of the game revealed a team struggling. Little success in shooting, a pace set by Milan, and an aggressive Lombard defense disrupting every play. The visitors quickly gained an advantage thanks to a marked presence on offensive rebounds and a fluid ball movement. The first quarter ended with a significant gap (12 points), a result of a hesitant start and a lack of precision.
The dynamics then changed. Élie Okobo’s introduction brought a new breath of air. The shooting guard found angles, distributed, settled, and created plays. His impact gave coherence back to Monaco’s offense. The defense followed, becoming more compact and aggressive. Terry Tarpey, Juhann Begarin, and Kevarrius Hayes added volume. The match evened out, and Monaco regained speed in transition while Milan suffered more from the contacts. The break arrived with a reduced gap, evidence of an already started comeback: 45-48.
A decisive final quarter
The second half opened with an arm-wrestling contest. Milan continued to find solutions near the basket thanks to Leday and Nebo. The Italians maintained a short but real lead. The third quarter lacked continuity. Monaco tried to accelerate but occasionally clashed with its own haste. The visitors took advantage of these sequences to score from long distance. The gap once again climbed to +10.
Nevertheless, the Roca Team refused to give up. The nine deployed players remained committed. Each possession became a battle. A three-pointer by Alpha Diallo, an offensive rebound converted by Kevarrius Hayes (seven rebounds), another long-range shot by Alpha Diallo reignited the game. The public sensed the possible shift. Despite the accumulated fatigue, both mentally and physically, due to the series of matches, the Monaco group maintained constant pressure.
The final quarter then revealed a leader: Alpha Diallo (17 points, six rebounds). The Guinean forward took control of the game with three three-pointers, a steal, and a decisive offensive rebound. He guided the comeback and brought the teams to a tie in the last minutes. The collective energy did the rest. Milan lost precision, while Monaco gained clarity.
Matthew Strazel then found an important lay-up, symbolizing total commitment. The last minute saw Elie Okobo distribute a thirteenth assist (16 points) to Daniel Theis. The arena erupted. An 11-0 run in three minutes sealed the game. Victory took shape, built through effort and solidarity. In the end, the Roca Team secured its third consecutive Euroleague victory (90-85).
The reactions confirmed this interpretation. At the end of the match, coach Manuchar Markoishvili praised “the team’s reaction”, highlighting a group that “continued to believe, to play together, to fight.”
This victory keeps Monaco in the race for direct quarter-final qualification (7th, tied with Hapoel Tel-Aviv and Zalgiris Kaunas). Three home games remain on the schedule. A trip to Athens awaits the group on Friday, against Panathinaikos (8th), a direct opponent in the play-off race. The reduced rotation necessitates precise management, but the current momentum fuels hope.
The technical sheet highlights the duel’s intensity: a balanced team with five players scoring ten points or more, finding accuracy as the match progressed, a capacity to limit turnovers, and imposing a more favorable pace in the last quarter. Milan, strong for much of the game, faltered at crucial moments.
This evening confirms a trend: Monaco advances, even in adversity. The remainder of the regular season looks dense, but the trajectory remains intact.
