2023-05-10 20:23:40
A first for a team in the French Championship since Asvel in 1997. A first also for the Roca Team, which is only competing in the Euroleague for the second time in its history.
At the Final Four (May 19-21 in Kaunas, Lithuania), the Monegasques will face Olympiakos, first in the regular season, in the semi-finals. A match that already smells of sulfur: last year, the Greeks had deprived the Principality team of participation in the final four, following an unbreathable match 5, also in the quarter-finals. For Monaco, there was no question that history might repeat itself on Wednesday once morest Maccabi Tel-Aviv.
In the space of four minutes at the start of the second quarter, they inflicted a 15-0 in Tel Aviv (41-33). Ironically: last week, at the same time of the match, the Israeli club had passed a 20-0 to its opponent.
The visitors remained threatening. At the break, there was only a four-point lead (53-49) for Monaco, who then thought they were widening a gap (57-49, 31st) that Maccabi quickly filled. The two teams then did not leave each other on the score, until Jordan Loyd signed a fabulous long-distance shot then a series of three-point shots (86-79, 37th). Then Monaco was able to resist the final enemy attacks and, in a jubilant room, validated its ticket for the Final Four.
James then Loyd carry Monaco
Mike James was impressive in the first period with 21 points scored. But he was silent when he returned from the locker room. Jordan Loyd was the strong man of his team with also 21 pts scored, including 14 during the second period.
In the whole history of European basketball – Champions Cup then Euroleague – Monaco has become the third representative of the French Championship to reach the last four of the event (following Limoges and Asvel). The Principality’s players now dream of emulating CSP Limoges, the only French team to have won the event, in 1993.
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