So many emotions at Gaston-Médecin! Already with its back against the wall after the loss of home advantage during match 1, the Roca Team once again trembled this Friday evening during act 2 against the Turks of Fenerbahçe. But she escaped in the final moments thanks in part to Jordan Loyd’s winning shot, discreet during most of the game, 13 seconds from the end (93-88).
🚨 𝗝𝗢𝗥𝗗𝗔𝗡 𝗟𝗢𝗬𝗗 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗜𝗡𝗡𝗡𝗡𝗡𝗡 ! 🔥
VICTORY FOR THE ROCA TEAM! 🔴⚪️@ASMonaco_Basket x @EuroLeague
📺 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗦𝗨𝗥 !#SKWEEKLive #EveryGameMatters pic.twitter.com/ijBoMlC3E5
— SKWEEK (@skweektv) April 26, 2024
Sasa Obradovic’s men have come a long way. However, they were 16 points ahead very early in the game (27-11, 7th) before losing track and starting the last quarter 9 lengths behind (65-74).
It was through its determination and its defense finally found, with only 14 points conceded in the last act, that Monaco made the difference. The Monegasques remain alive in this series (1-1) and will not go to Istanbul with a sword of Damocles hanging over their heads from match 3, next Wednesday at 7:45 p.m.
A perfect introduction
“We are going to put all our heart into this match”, had predicted Sasa Obradovic before the meeting. It is an understatement to say that the Monegasques heard their coach before entering the floor. Put into orbit by enormous all-terrain pressure, the Roca Team got off to a perfect start with a 9-0 in the first 90 seconds! Propelled into the starting five, and even given a standing ovation on his first outing, Matthew Strazel set a hellish pace and the only reason why Monaco was only one possession away after five minutes of play was the address of Tyler Dorsey, author of Fener’s first 11 points (14-11, 5th).
𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗪 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗭𝗘𝗟 𝗦𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗛𝗘́𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡! 🔥@ASMonaco_Basket x @EuroLeague#SKWEEKLive #EveryGameMatters pic.twitter.com/0SxrkHw8IV
— SKWEEK (@skweektv) April 26, 2024
Despite two quick fouls from Mike James, the Monegasques barely had time to think before they gave themselves fresh air by passing another 13-0 against the Turkish defense (27-11, 7th). Dominators in all sectors in the first act, Donatas Motiejunas (18 points) and co could nevertheless regret starting the second quarter with “only” ten units in advance after the buzzer from Scottie Wilbekin (31-21).
Donatas Motiejunas is the day you love them! 🌋
Already 🔟 points for the Lithuanian interior! 🦾@ASMonaco_Basket x @EuroLeague
📺 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗦𝗨𝗥 !#SKWEEKLive #EveryGameMatters pic.twitter.com/RDmI1ol1oY
— SKWEEK (@skweektv) April 26, 2024
The Fener sees the circle big
Moreover, Fenerbahçe continued its close approach (39-36, 15th) thanks to its traditional outside skill (10/17 at 3-points in the first half) and the vista of Nick Calathes, 7 points and 6 assists at mid -time. Fortunately, the Roca Team relied on its dominance in rebounds (18 to 11 at the break), its skill in throwing (14/15) and its duo James – Okobo to regain some air (50-40, 18th )… Until Scottie Wilbekin crashed a second buzzer at the end of the quarter!
𝗦𝗖𝗢𝗧𝗧𝗜𝗘 𝗪𝗜𝗟𝗕𝗘𝗞𝗜𝗡 𝗔𝗨 𝗕𝗨𝗭𝗭𝗘𝗥 ! 🚨
At the break, it was the Roca Team which led by 4 small points against Fenerbahçe. 🦾
📺 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗦𝗨𝗥 !#SKWEEKLive #EveryGameMatters pic.twitter.com/VmFCZlpIrm
— SKWEEK (@skweektv) April 26, 2024
Monaco was only four points ahead at half-time (54-50), the fault of a more lax defense during the second act (29 points conceded). Frustrating after such a good start… This is only the second time that two teams have reached 50 points in the history of the Euroleague playoffs.
Tyler Dorsey, the smell of blood
Then the light went out at Gaston-Médecin… at least for Monaco, who did not compare in defense with the Turks at the moment when their skill began to weaken. The reason: too many mistakes during the transition phases. Fener took the lead for the first time in the match (59-60, 24th) and took a psychological advantage when Tyler Dorsey scored his 6th winning shot of the evening in as many attempts (62-66, 26th)!
𝗧𝗬𝗟𝗘𝗥 𝗗𝗢𝗥𝗦𝗘𝗘𝗘𝗘𝗘𝗬 😱
22 points and 5/5 at long distance for him 🥶@FBBasketbol x @EuroLeague
📺 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗦𝗨𝗥 !#SKWEEKLive #EveryGameMatters pic.twitter.com/yDASWjoAzL
— SKWEEK (@skweektv) April 26, 2024
Under the eyes of Valérie Garnier, the French coach of the Fener girls, European champions, Monegasque ball losses multiplied and Sarunas Jasikevicius’ men broke away at the dawn of the final sprint (65-74). The Roca Team seemed feverish, stunned, even worried that the scenario of match 1 would repeat itself.
Monaco turns the tide!
But Sasa Obradovic’s men would finally escape from the Istanbul trap. Without John Brown, in the locker room after a blow to the shoulder, and with a tired Mike James, Monaco relied on their X factors Mam Jaiteh and Jaron Blossomgame to catch up and get back in front five minutes from the end (77 -75, 35th). The start of an unbreathable moneytime.
💗
OKBOOOOOOOOOOO ⚡️@ASMonaco_Basket x @EuroLeague📺 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗦𝗨𝗥 !#SKWEEKLive #EveryGameMatters pic.twitter.com/JM0pPxRRwn
— SKWEEK (@skweektv) April 26, 2024
Elie Okobo scored 5 ultra clutch points in a row to allow Monaco to regain a two possession lead with less than three minutes remaining (84-79, 38th). But, after a mess where Donatas Motiejunas was sanctioned with an unsportsmanlike foul and Sarunas Jasikevicius with a technical foul, the Roca Team only had a one point lead 120 seconds from the buzzer. Marko Guduric’s free throw put the two teams back on level terms for a while while Mike James got excited on the bench when a member of the Monegasque staff failed to treat his injury, leaving him on the side of his teammates under pressure (85-85).
A few seconds later, the American leader returned to the field but it was Alpha Diallo, with a precious tap, and Jordan Loyd, with a 3/4 free throw, who played the heroes (90-85). Except that Scottie Wilbekin (23 points) never gave up and scored a 3-pointer from the parking lot to put the pressure back on ASM with 32 seconds to play… Before the delivery of Jordan Loyd, author of the successful shot at 13 seconds from the end (93-88)!
Note that Mike James (8 points on 2/7 shots, 7 rebounds, 7 assists) finished at 18 in evaluation but did not cross 10 units for the first time this season.
Boxscore Monaco – Fenerbahçe (match 2)
Monaco could buy its place as a permanent member of the Euroleague
Maintained in the Euroleague thanks to its very good sporting results, Monaco still aims to establish itself permanently in the most prestigious European competition. In parallel with its new room project, the Roca Team would even be ready to pay to obtain a permanent license.
2024-04-26 20:40:04
#suspense #Monaco #equalizes #Fenerbahçe
