Euroleague: Monaco revives after extra time in Kaunas, for the first of Sasa Obradovic
Monaco is finally back on the road to victory after five straight defeats in the Euroleague, on the floor of Zalgiris Kaunas. The proteges of the new coach Sasa Obradovic needed an extension to win against the valiant Lithuanians (98-107).
The effect will have been immediate. After five defeats in a row in the Euroleague and a newcomer in Betclic Élite, against Strasbourg, AS Monaco separated a few days ago from their coach, Zvezdan Mitrovic, and called on a former member of the house to help. , Sasa Obradovic. Arrived Monday in the Principality, the Serbian technician had very little time to prepare for this match against the red lantern of Euroleague, and thought he was being trapped. After a good start, the Roca Team fell back into its pitfalls and suffered a 27-13 in the 3rd quarter (70-61, 30th).
But the Roca Team, determined to interrupt their black streak, responded with a 34-25 in the fourth act to offer an unbreathable finish in the beautiful atmosphere of the Zalgirio Arena in Kaunas. Galvanized in its lair, with three victories in its last four Euroleague meetings at home, the Lithuanian team pulled off an extension on an angry offensive rebound from Edgaras Ulanovas on a rate of Lukas Lekavicius (95-95, 40th).
But Monaco did not give up, and badly needed a victory to get closer to the Top 8 of the Euroleague, the goal set by the club and its president. It is on this basis that the Monegasques filed a final 12-3 to remove the extension (97-108).
A collective found in the wake of Mike James
Previously, we had seen Monegasques more serious and applied in their game, like Mike James (6 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists after 10 minutes). However, the locals resisted to leave only a small point in advance in Monaco at the end of the first act (22-21, 10th). The neo-coach Obradovic began to put his paw on the game of the Roca Team with less long-distance shots, a more sustained pace and above all an almost infallible skill. In the first half, the Monegasques scored 21 of their 30 shots, or 70% success!
If they were done then, the Monegasques were able to count on Mike James (20 points, 5 rebounds, 14 assists, season record) but also Dwayne Bacon (19 points, 4 rebounds), precious off the bench. For the locals, Janis Strelnieks (22 points, 4 assists) and Arturas Milaknis (19 points with 6/8 shooting) held the house but lacked juice at the end of the game. The Monegasques themselves find their way back to victory before hosting the Zénit Saint-Pétersbourg on Friday evening (8 p.m.).
Boxscore Zalgiris Kaunas – AS Monaco / Euroleague standings
Photo: Mike James (Euroleague)