Cart/Betclic Elite. The Momentum signs the feat and makes Monaco doubt
L’Élan has stopped sweeping. Casually, it’s a feat to have beaten the quarter-finalist of the Euroleague when he had, like Villeurbanne, in mind to finish as soon as possible. He will have to reproduce this performance on Thursday, for a match 4 that not many people had expected.
full of energy
There is always something inevitable in facing a stronger team, better armed in all its lines, but that does not prevent us from trying. The Palois had not done so at all in match 1 in the Principality and if there had been better 72 hours later, they had not been able to prevent a second setback. In any case, nothing comparable to their start to the match, this Tuesday evening, carrying all that it takes to make logic lie: pace, ideas and this energy of the condemned who wants to delay the deadline.
It was Oniangue and Jefferson, behind the 6.75m, who set the tone and if Motiejunas were already breaking through the Pau rebound, if James slammed two shots, Pau remained in front (17-11). As in Monaco, the appearances of Bacon and Thomas gave ASM extra power (17-16, 8e) but what really tipped the scales on the side of the Roca Team was the handover between James and Westermann as point guard.
The American, fake slow and constantly looking for one against one, had not really advanced his team when the ex-Limougeaud, on a more dynamic tempo and with a game of clear fixing-passes, made him do a link to the score (23-21 then 26-32). But the Momentum did not let go and took control with Sané from afar and Hrovat who went for a tap (38-34) just before halftime (42-42).
Monaco was trying to raise the tone after the break, with a very hard-hitting Bacon but not sufficiently surrounded to make the break (49-50, 25e). On the contrary, after a good passage from Chikoko, it was Bibbins who would successfully challenge the Monegasque defense and Sané who followed suit.
Rebound Dominators
Pau did better than compete, witness the rebound sector, revealing the level of commitment, where he did better than his opponent after three quarters (31 taken to 26).
In this showdown started from the first minute, the Momentum still had the advantage at the start of the fourth quarter (65-62). He showed his strength and his showmanship too, with Ndiaye who struck down the parquet floor of the Palais des Sports once, with an alley oop, then twice with a counter on James.