This Friday evening, the Monegasques obtained their 4th victory in 5 Euroleague matches, against Fenerbahçe (92-78). Alpha Diallo shone to allow the Roca Team to find the Top 8 of the competition.

This time, Roca Team fans were able to experience a quieter evening. Accustomed to close matches, their players this time did not do anything to win against Fenerbahçe (92-78). On fire offensively (65.7% shooting success from 2 points, 40.9% from 3 points), Monaco had already acquired their advantage before halftime. Sasa Obradovic’s men then only had to manage their lead to switch back to a positive balance (14 wins, 13 losses) and, above all, find a top 8 synonymous with the playoffs.

However, the task looked far from being so easy against Fenerbahce, former winner of the competition (2017) and ranked just behind AS Monaco before this match. Especially since the leader of the Turkish championship found one of his best elements, the French Nando de Colo (12.1 points, 4 assists and 14.6 average evaluation in Euroleague), who had not played since the 23 last December. Opposite, Monaco also lost Danilo Andjusic to injury (6th), and was behind after the first ten minutes played (19-20).

But at home, the Roca Team then imposes its rhythm of play based on counter-attacks and its individual strengths. If Yakuba Ouattara then Donta Hall were found for dunks that woke up the public, their energy was initially not enough to pass in front of the score (28-28, 13th). However, Monegasque aggressiveness would sound their revolt: in this second quarter, the locals collectively passed a run of 27-5 for a total of 36 points scored in ten minutes! Already at half-time, it was no longer the same match and Monaco had removed their evening opponent (55-33).

This time, Monaco managed their end of the game well

With such a gap, hard not to believe the victory almost already achieved. But in Monaco, we readily remembered the scenario of the last meetings against Kazan and especially Kaunas, when leaving the locker room… On the other side, Marko Guduric was trying to bring his team back with a shower of 3-point shots succeeded, but the step was too high. This time, the teammates of an Alpha Diallo in the oven and in the mill remained serious to ensure a less stressful end to the match (75-55, 30th). Although the pace of the match slowed down a bit, the Roca Team was ultimately never worried during the second half, still staying ahead by at least ten points. If Monaco let go of the ballast at the end of a match already acquired, the final score remains witness to a successful performance, worthy of a European cador.

For the Turks, Nando de Colo (19 points and 19 evaluation in 22 minutes) and Marko Guduric (18 points including 5/7 from 3 points) won but alas, a little too late. Above all, they couldn’t resist the collective performance of the Monegasques: with the exception of the injured Andjusic, all the Roca Boys who entered the field scored at least one basket. More discreet this evening, Mike James (10 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists) gave way to a gala Alpha Diallo (24 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists for 26 evaluation in 33 minutes), supported by loyal lieutenants Donatas Motiejunas (18 points, 9 rebounds) and Will Thomas (14 points, 7 rebounds).

With this 4th victory in 5 matches, Monaco returns to the top 8 of the Euroleague, in 7th place. As for Fenerbahce, it’s an end to the series after 5 straight wins in the competition, and a stoppage that ranks them 10th. The Roca Team now has a few days off before returning to competition next Thursday against FC Barcelona (9 p.m.).

Boxscore AS Monaco – Fenerbahce / Euroleague ranking