Monaco misses the chance to be crowned champions in front of Asfel

A solid gold trophy weighing 21 kilograms was up to them. Crested in the middle of a crowded room in Gaston-Médecin. 3000 Monaco supporters gathered to take the rock to Olympus. But Sasa Obradovic did not live up to the action and logically lost in this disappointing match 4. ASVEL won 85 – 68 (22 – 9/19 – 19/22 – 11/22 – 29) and made the final at home on Saturday. As in 2019, bad memory…

Monaco never rhymes

A very shy start to the match by Roca, trailing 0-7 before Mike James’ first basket to open the Monaco counter after nearly 3’30 of play. Not in rhythm, Monaco made a series of poor choices in attack and made the penalty behind 2-12, then 6-20. Hub Donatas Motiejunas illustrates this lack of success and misses free throws (0 of 3). Asvel logically dominates this failed first quarter (9-22).

The second round resumes on the same basis. Monegasques gives the impression of walking on eggshells. Not sharp offensively, as if they are afraid of losing the ball and opposing counter-attacks (11-27). Then Paris passed me the first long-distance basket to restore the stream. Dwayne Bacon imitated her. Monaco is back in the game. Mike James treats. Bacon continues. The Gaston-Médecin chamber vibrates and tightens the score (23-30). After this 9-0 concession, Asvel in particular reacted thanks to Jones’s two three-point baskets and went to +13 in the first half (28-41).

Asvel will play the title at home

The separator does not change the features of the match. She breaks up and leads 19 points after six minutes in this third quarter (33-52). Danger comes from everywhere amid Rodanian while in Monaco only James appears regularly. The visitors cruise and reclaim their lead by 24 points at the end of this third quarter one way (39-63).

The final 10 minutes is just a long tunnel for Game Five, despite the efforts of Mike James (30 points total). See you Saturday at Astroballe (8.30pm), which will still be simmering hot to present the French Champion title. The twenty-first day of Asvel or the first for Team Roca, who could have long regretted this failed evening.