Euroleague: Monaco wins the mano-a-mano against ASVEL!
In an ultra tight duel for three quarters this Thursday evening, ASVEL ended up paying for their indiscipline (21 loss of balls) in the last ten minutes (75-84). Monaco is temporarily replaced on the Euroleague podium when Lyon-Villeurbanne remains stuck in the back car.
ASVEL – Monaco is now a classic, a real one. This one clearly delivered on its promise for most of the game. It was also Thursday evening of the expected reunion, in the first remake of the last Betclic Elite final since the incredible match 5 of last June.
At the Astroballe, in a particularly balanced encounter (20-20, 45-45, 60-60, 75-84), the Roca Team took the upper hand in the final quarter. The 20 losses of Villeurbannaises balls (against 11 for Monaco) ended up weighing heavily in the balance. ASVEL thus suffered its fifth consecutive defeat in the Euroleague after the last – heavy – of the Panathinaikos while Monaco begins a new series thanks to its second success in a row.
An ultra tight mano-a-mano
Impossible to count the number of changes of leaders during the first 20 minutes as there were so many. Starting with a tight and tense first act (20-20). On the one hand, the Monegasques lacked skill (0/6 to 3 points) but managed to be more aggressive (7 faults caused to 4), relying on 9 points from Mike James in ten minutes. On the other, the Villeurbannais, Jonah Mathews at the top of the list, scored difficult but proven shots of great indiscipline (6 loss of balls, three offensive faults).
The first five minutes of the second quarter follow the same ilk with the good passages of Parker Jackson-Cartwright and Alex Tyus on one side and those of Donatas Motiejunas and Alpha Diallo, before Monaco creates the first gap (33-39 , 17th). Fire extinguished instantly by Yves Pons, author of a chasedown block on Jordan Loyd then a tap dunk at very high altitude (38-39, 18th). Enough to re-energize the men of TJ Parker, who will join the half-time buzzer by Jordan Loyd (45-45).
The Roca Team stronger in the finish
The third act was a copy-and-paste of the first half. Neither team managed to pull away. Bis repetita: ASVEL continued to lose many balls and Monaco could not take off. Retin Obasohan equalized in the last second of the quarter after a small bridge over Donatas Motiejunas (60-60).
It was finally in the fourth quarter that one team took the lead over the other. In this game, Monaco was more solid in the duels. David Lighty, uncertain before the match (knee), did try to keep ASVEL afloat after remaining silent for the first 200 seconds of the last act (60-66, 34th) but it was not enough.
Returning to the Astroballe for the first time since his title of MVP of the Betclic Elite finals and not in his pumps until then, Elie Okobo delivered the coup de grace four minutes from time by passing the Roca Team for the first time at +10 (65-75, 36th). The attempt to return was unsuccessful. Note that the Monegasque John Brown went out on civil in the last minute, after long seconds which brought down the temperature of the Astroballe… Let’s hope for him that he will come out unscathed.
The Monegasques Mike James and Donatas Motiejunas finished co-top scorers in the game with 17 units. On the Villeurbannais side, Nando De Colo missed out (2 points at 1/4 on shots, 4 assists and 4 loss of balls).
The two teams will meet soon… in the league, next Tuesday, on the Rock, the 3rd of their eleven meetings in December. But first, ASVEL will go to Beaublanc to challenge Limoges this Saturday evening then Monaco will host Blois on Sunday. After these two games, the two teams will travel to Spain to face Barcelona and Real Madrid. Cotton program!
Development to follow.
in Villeurbanne.
Boxscore ASVEL – Monaco / Euroleague calendar / Euroleague ranking
Photography: Elie Okobo (Thomas Savoja)