Bourg-en-Bresse defeats favorite Monaco and qualifies for the semi-finals of the Leaders Cup

In disbelief, Mike James sprinted towards his own basket, his hands clenched on his jersey. The first Leaders Cup of the leader-star of Monaco ended one minute from the end of his quarter-final against Bourg-en-Bresse (92-102), author of the first sensation of the day, Friday in Saint-Chamond . Excluded for a fifth foul, offensive on Jordan Floyd as he tried to equalize (89-91, 39th), James even received a technique a few moments later and had to return to the locker room.

A finally decisive turning point for JL Bourg who did not hesitate to bend the case with a basket plus the fault of Jordan Floyd (89-95, 39th). Seeded n°8 in the Leaders Cup, Frédéric Fauthoux’s team pays the scalp of the leader of the Championship for the second time in five days and will face Dijon on Saturday in the semi-finals (3:30 p.m.).

James’ exploits weren’t enough

As at Ekinox last Sunday (90-88), the Burgiens tore the Monegasque defense to pieces, deprived of John Brown III and Jaron Blossomgame (not on the score sheet to respect the maximum number of foreign players). With an identical recipe: a hail of award-winning baskets (13 out of 26 attempts, 50% success) and a remarkable collective with seven players at nine points or more, led by the 18 units of James Palmer Jr.

Kept alive by the exploits of James (26 points, 8 of 19 shooting, 6 assists), Elie Okobo (13 points) and Jordan Loyd (14), Monaco almost carried out a hold-up. Two free throws from Loyd, on the 32nd whistled foul against Bourg, put the Roca Team back in control (89-88, 38th). But on the next possession, Amida Brimah seized on an offensive rebound to score, also with a foul, and restore the advantage to Bourg. Finalist in 2019 against Strasbourg (97-98), the JL can dream of a first coronation in the Leaders Cup.

For Monaco, a first title opportunity flies away. Sasa Obradovic’s players will have six days to recover before their next match: a Euroleague shock on the FC Barcelona floor next Friday. But it will be necessary to wait until 2024 to win a fourth Leaders Cup, an absolute record on the list of winners of the former Week of As.