A few minutes before kick-off, Mike James, in civilian clothes, kindly took photos with the Portelo fans, delighted to have at least brought home this trophy. This clash between the two teams in the best shape of the championship (eight victories in the last nine matches) was played this Sunday at Portel with Monaco having to digest its terrible European week (Belgrade Tuesday, Kaunas Friday).
Landing by private plane, the Monegasques, who had also put Walker, Motiejunas and Brown in civilian clothes or on the bench, took on the local tide, white-hot by a delirious public. The Portelois sent heavy contacts. Enough to quickly fly away (12-4, 4th, 22-14, 9th) despite a lot of heat with the injury of maestro Maxhuni. His ankle quickly strapped, he returned to the fight.
Okobo, the class!
Monaco finally took the lead at the end of the first period on a Strazel-Donta Hall alley hoop, still overpowering in air traffic controller mode (31-35, 16th). But, in front, we did not lower our weapons and Maxhuni, borrowed from shooting, several times orbited the Diawara and especially Gresham, levitating in the sky of the Chaudron (48-48, 26th then 55-51, 28th).
This match, where the gap rarely exceeded five points, would be decided in the last quarter (61-61, 32nd). The attack stalled, Monaco passed a fatal 9-2 (63-70, 37th), the mark of the greats with an exceptional Okobo who followed up with high class actions.
