Despite the support of a sold-out Rhénus and the resting of Mike James and Donatas Motiejunas on the Monegasque side, SIG Strasbourg did not manage to overthrow Roca Team in match 2 of the quarter-finals of Betclic Elite this Friday evening (83-85). Monaco joins Bourg-en-Bresse in the last four.
Barely digested its Euroleague podium, the Roca Team stays the course in Betclic Elite. Above all, it avoids the trap set by Strasbourg in the quarter-finals. Without Mike James, the executioner of the SIG last year, and Donatas Motiejunas, both put to rest this Friday evening (six foreigners maximum on the sheet), AS Monaco held their ground in match 2 in the bubbling Rhénus (6,168 spectators).
Despite the enormous Alsatian comeback, characterized by the efficiency of the Paul Lacombe trio (20 points at 8/13 on shots, 7 rebounds, 3 assists) – Rodions Kurucs (17 points at 6/8 on shots including 3/5 at 3 -points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals) – Bodian Massa (11 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists), all three rated 25 or more, Sasa Obradovic’s team snatched victory thanks to their aggression and skill on the line (27/33 on throws).
It should be noted that Jaron Blossomgame (21 points at 6/7 on shots including 17 at the break, 8/10 on the line), best evaluation of the match for ASM (21), missed his last two free throws, leaving a possibility of a miracle to Marcus Keene on the last second, which itself followed a 3-pointer from Matt Mitchell’s missed win a few seconds earlier, in vain (83-85).
15-2 in 180 seconds
It must be said that the Roca Team made the task easier thanks to a dream start. With a revamped starting lineup of Matthew Strazel, Jordan Loyd, Jaron Blossomgame, Chima Moneke and John Brown, Sasa Obradovic’s side instantly took control with a 15-2 in just three minutes. Stunned, the Alsatians needed a little more time to get into it and finally get into the game – other than with the electricity linked to the stakes of the match – with in particular a passage in the zone at the end of the first quarter (23-33).
The enormous Monegasque skill of the first quarter (80% from 2-points, 60% from 3-points, 8/9 in throws) ended up falling but the SIG, not helped by a Marcus Keene who was not very successful with 5 loss of balls at half-time, slowly but surely recovered his deficit (41-43, 19th), before the air conditioning blow of Matthew Strazel, author of a filoche from the midfield at the half-time buzzer ( 41-46).
The revolt of the warrior Paul Lacombe
Upon returning from the locker room, the SIG relied on a man to sound the revolt: Paul Lacombe. The former Villeurbannais, in the oven and in the mill, scored in all positions, distilled the game and allowed his team, with the support of Léopold Cavalière and Bodian Massa, to pass in front for the first time in the match (52 -50, 23rd). So no more team sowed the other until the last second.
In the moneytime, Paul Lacombe roared once again, and the Rhénus believed in it when Marcus Keene planted his fourth award-winning shot of the evening two minutes from the end (81-80, 38th). But, more physically solid, more impactful in the racket in order to cause whistles, and carried by Jordan Loyd (17 points at 4/9 on shots) and Elie Okobo (10 points at 3/10 on shots) in the moments crucial, the Roca Team got out of the trap. The SIG, qualified for the playoffs after a heroic comeback, can still come out with their heads held high.
For Monaco, the rest comes very quickly with a semi-final against JL Bourg, finalist of the Leaders Cup by beating Roca Team and Dijon in the quarter-finals, from Monday May 29 (at 8:30 p.m.). The other half will pit Boulogne-Levallois against ASVEL.
Boxscore Strasbourg – Monaco / Playoffs Table
Photo: Jaron Blossomgame (AS Monaco)
