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One week after the feat against Olympiakos, Monaco, without Mike James, secured a second victory by winning at the end of the match on Anadolu Efes’ court (98-93), this Thursday during the 22nd day of the Euroleague. Completely revived, the Vice-European champions can once again believe in the playoffs. On the other hand, Paris suffered a second consecutive defeat at home against Partizan (90-81).
The Monégasques just keep going! Just two weeks ago, Monaco, defeated twice in a row in the Euroleague, seemed dangerously headed towards a season end without relief or hope. Two matches have passed, and here are the Roca Boys back in the game for the qualification.
After achieving a major feat during the last match against Olympiakos at home (81-80), the unlucky finalists of the last edition confirmed their superb performance from the previous week on Thursday by securing a second consecutive victory (98-93) in Turkey against Anadolu Efes, who rank 18th.
On paper, despite missing Mike James, injured against the Greeks and absent for over a month, the leaders of Betclic Elite were clearly favored against this team they had crushed in November (102-66).
Blossomgame, the X factor
The players of Manuchar Markoishvili were on the verge of a relapse, before eventually making a difference at the end of the game following the performance of Jaron Blossomgame (17 points in total, same as Alpha Diallo and Matthew Strazel) who shone during the last period.
Thanks in particular to their American winger but also to a transformed Juhann Begarin (12 points, 4 rebounds), Monaco managed to turn around a very compromised situation after being dominated (32-22) in the second quarter by the teammates of French international Isaïa Cordinier, former Monégasque Jordan Lloyd, and especially an unstoppable Sehmus Hazer (26 points).
Despite numerous turnovers during this game, the players from the Principality, surprised at home last weekend against Nancy in the championship, capitalized on their opponents’ long-range shooting failure in the last quarter to regain the lead and never let go of the leadership.
After this second consecutive victory, Monaco can once again hope for a ticket to the playoffs before a crucial week that will see them host Milan and then travel to Athens to face Panathinaikos. Hoping that this reinvigorated Roca Team in full speed will confirm its renewal.
Paris brought to a halt
There is no more speed at all for Paris. Falling back into their old ways during the last match on Hapoël Tel Aviv’s court, the French champions are slowing down. In a match against the Partizan Belgrade on Thursday night at their Adidas Arena against another poorly ranked team, the Parisians succumbed to the Serbians who, on the other hand, secured a third victory, a second consecutive defeat for the Parisians (91-80).
Despite a good start (20-17 at the end of the first quarter) and a good reaction at the end of the match following an excellent Nadir Hifi (23 points, 4 assists) once again, but unfortunately far too alone in this Parisian match (Yakuba Ouattara, the second highest scorer for Paris in this match scored 10 points), Francesco Tabellini’s players suffered their 21st loss of the season and remain 17th in the standings.
A comeback is imperative, even though it would now take a real miracle for the capital’s team to finish in the Top 10.
