Monaco is moving forward, ASVEL is sinking
Monaco won an important victory in the Euroleague on Tuesday evening against Panathinaikos (91-83) which allows it to stay in the race for the top 8. For ASVEL, which suffered a third loss in a row against Fenerbahçe (85- 76), the mission becomes very complicated.
AS Monaco won against Panathinaikos (91-83) on Tuesday during the 24th day of the Euroleague, carried by its American leader Mike James, and remains in the running for the Final 8.
When he plays like that, everything becomes easier for the Roca Team: James (29 points, 12/17 shooting) took his team to victory in Athens, helped by the other back, Paris Lee (12 pts, four stolen balls), which set the tone defensively. The Monegasques were therefore activated by the defeat suffered during the last day against Real Madrid, who dominate the Euroleague, by beating Pana, penultimate in the standings.
The eleventh victory of the Monegasques – for twelve defeats – allows them to stay in the good wagon, the one which will perhaps lead them to the final phase of the competition. Bayern Munich, who currently occupy the eighth and last qualifying place, have a balanced record: eleven wins for as many defeats. Roca Team will face lower-ranked Red Star Belgrade on Thursday in hopes of maintaining that pace.
ASVEL can’t do it anymore
For ASVEL, on the other hand, the top 8 seemed illusory. Villeurbanne chained a third consecutive defeat, against Fenerbahçe (85-76), which met its hopes of qualifying for the playoffs badly.
In Istanbul, the Villeurbannais, still won by Elie Okobo (23 points) and Charles Kahudi (14 pts), were in the game for most of the match but cracked in the fourth quarter, lost 21-13. The Fener relied on Marko Guduric (15 pts), untenable in the key moments of the match, and defensively stifled TJ Parker’s players in the last moments. In the standings, Asvel’s counter remains stuck at nine wins, for fourteen defeats.