The French Leaders Cup semifinals are set following quarterfinal action on Friday at the Arena Futuroscope, with Monaco, Le Mans, and Cholet securing their spots. Monaco narrowly avoided an upset against Strasbourg, while Le Mans had a more comfortable victory over Nanterre. In a significant upset, Cholet defeated ASVEL, ending the Villeurbannais’ hopes for a trophy this week.
Monaco, currently navigating challenges off the court with financial concerns surrounding owner Aleksej Fedoricsev, continued their strong recent form with a 90-89 victory over Strasbourg. The win marks their fifth consecutive victory across all competitions. But, it wasn’t without a scare, as Monaco only regained the lead with 22 seconds remaining in the game.
Mike James Seals the Win for Monaco
Strasbourg had an opportunity to win the game with a final shot, but Marcus Keene’s attempt fell short. Daniel Theis missed both free throws with four seconds left, but Mike James secured a crucial rebound, one of his few impactful plays of the night (9 points on 0-for-4 shooting from three-point range), to seal the victory for Monaco.
Monaco had experienced a significant shift in momentum earlier in the game, starting slowly (11-27 by the 9th minute) before a strong second quarter led by Élie Okobo (15 points, including 10 in the second quarter) fueled a 33-2 run against Strasbourg (44-29 by the 26th minute). The game remained competitive throughout, highlighting Strasbourg’s resilience.
Monaco will now face Cholet in the semifinals on Saturday. Cholet secured their spot with a 93-82 win over ASVEL, marking their first Leaders Cup victory in 16 years. The result frustrated ASVEL head coach Pierric Poupet, who acknowledged his team’s shortcomings.
ASVEL Falls to Cholet in Upset
“We have to look ourselves in the face. we didn’t deserve to move any further,” Poupet said, citing 15 turnovers and a poor shooting performance from the free-throw line (8-for-16) as key factors in the loss. ASVEL had previously squandered a 17-point lead in the second quarter (42-25) and ultimately collapsed in the final minutes.
American forward DeAndre Gholston led Cholet with 28 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter. He sealed the victory with a three-pointer – his first successful attempt of the night (1-for-5) – and then directed a celebratory gesture towards the Cholet supporters.
The game as well saw a brief display of protest from Cholet fans, who unfurled a banner critical of the French National Basketball League (LNB). The LNB had considered providing financial assistance to Monaco players affected by delayed salary payments but later reversed their decision. The banner read “Ligue Monégasque de Basketball,” replacing the “n” in “nationale” with an “m” and striking it through.
Le Mans Dominates Nanterre
Le Mans, the defending Leaders Cup champions, had a much easier path to the semifinals, defeating Nanterre 82-67. The game was largely one-sided, with Le Mans controlling the contest from start to finish. Nanterre struggled with their shooting, converting only 3 of 30 attempts from beyond the arc. Le Mans limited Nanterre to their lowest point total of the season.
Le Mans will face the winner of the quarterfinal matchup between Paris and Bourg-en-Bresse, scheduled for later Friday evening.
The semifinal matchups are now set: Monaco versus Cholet and Le Mans versus either Paris or Bourg-en-Bresse. The semifinals will be played on March 4th. This tournament continues to showcase the competitive landscape of French basketball, with several teams vying for a coveted title.
The Roca Team aims for their first Leaders Cup title since 2018, while Le Mans looks to defend their crown. The outcome of the Paris-Bourg-en-Bresse game will determine the final semifinal pairing and set the stage for a compelling weekend of basketball action.
For fans following the Leaders Cup, the next confirmed action is the completion of the Paris versus Bourg-en-Bresse quarterfinal, followed by the semifinals on March 4th. Stay tuned to archysport.com for continued coverage and analysis of the French Leaders Cup.
