After their victory on Tuesday evening (82-76), Elan Béarnais set off again on Thursday to try to return to two sets everywhere in this semi-final of the Betclic ELITE playoffs. Under the eyes of legend Howard Carter, Eric Bartecheky’s players fought to the end by recovering a deficit of 16 units. Finally the Roca Team imposed itself at the end of the suspense (83-85) and had to work to find ASVEL in the final.
Under the eyes of legend Howard Carter, Pau started the match with a bang and took the lead in this encounter thanks to the Pau duo of Justin Bibbins and Brandon Jefferson at the end of a very animated first act behind the arc with a 5/8 3-pointer that set the tone (26-20). The Roca Team then got back in working order and stopped Pau in the middle of the second quarter thanks to Mike James and Will Thomas in attack, leaving the Pau defense in difficulty when it was time to return to the locker room (40-45 , 20′).
An air pocket in the third quarter then the reassembly
On the return to the floor, Pau completely missed the mark and saw the Monegasques take a wide lead of 18 points on an 8-0 from the start of the third act (45-63, 27 ‘). Pau will then come back to -13 thanks to Landing Sané and brandon Jefferson behind the arc but in vain. Finally, the men of Sasa Obradovic will distract and more precisely Léo Westermann, who received a second unsportsmanlike foul synonymous with a return to the locker room and the end of the match at a time when the Roca Team was still at a respectable distance from Palois.
As a result of this game, Pau would then go up against ASM with a life-saving 3-point, giving them a 10-0 series which allowed them to come back into contact (71-77, 35′). The Roca Team trembled under the onslaught from Pau with yet another devilish Brandon Jefferson who put on the pearls from 3-pointers (78-81 then 81-83, 38′). Finally, Monaco could count on its soldier Will Thomas, to regain two possessions in advance before the hero of the Pau evening, Brandon Jefferson who missed the target with a final long shot 5 seconds from time.
At the mark, Pau was able to count on his duo Justin Bibbins (16 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals for 19 rating) and Brandon Jefferson (34 points at 7/16 from 3-pointers and 9/11 from free throws, 2 rebounds, 5 assists and 1 steal for 30 evaluation.) to always stay alive and continue to hope while on the side monegasque, Mike James scored 21 points but was clumsy behind the arc (2/10) while the interior sector responded with Donta Hall (12 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal for 22 rating) and Will Thomas (15 points at 7/8 on shots, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 20 evaluation), well helped by Léo Westermann (12 points, 7 assists, 1 rebound for 14 evaluation).
Monaco – ASVEL: a first title for ASM?
Thanks to this hard success, Sasa Obradovic’s team finds ASVEL for a remake of 2019. A long-awaited third final between the two Euroleague formations which already promises to be electric at a time when ASVEL is double reigning French champion and has the advantage of the field while Monaco will want to seek its first French championship.
See you on Wednesday at the Astroballe at 8:30 p.m. to experience a final that is already shaping up to be an anthology series.
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THE #ROCATEAM IN #FINALEBETCLICELITE TO GET THE TITLE pic.twitter.com/2JpFxNe7Cj
— AS Monaco Basket (@ASMonaco_Basket) June 9, 2022
