Roca Team faces ASVEL in match 2 of the Betclic Elite semi-final
Alexandre Lacoste ([email protected]) Published on 06/06/2025 at 4:30 p.m., updated on 06/06/2025 at 4:30 p.m.
Since we've been following them for so long, we know how this AS Monaco team operates. Being as impressed as we are exasperated by their performances, we know what fuels their engine: pride. As soon as pride is piqued, the beast wakes up. On Tuesday, the Roca Team showed up as amateurs in Décines. In a tense internal context (read our previous editions), they received a slap from ASVEL (94-74) . But yesterday, they came for revenge. And it showed! "Nobody likes to lose, nobody wants to be on vacation right now and we all want to go get that title," promised Juhann Begarin after the fall of Match 1. Now, talking is good but action is better.
From the start, the Monegasques showed a completely different attitude than on Tuesday: the adjustment made by Georgios Papagiannis in the starting five was bearing fruit (8 of ASM's first 10 points for the Greek giant), the defensive intensity was nothing like it used to be, and Vassilis Spanoulis's players were fighting for every ball, even the most desperate rebounds. As if they wanted to prove their Greek coach right: fatigue is good for a mother, not for millionaire basketball players...
On a 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer from Elie Okobo, the Roca Team even had a lead of up to 19 points at halftime (47-28). The hardest part was done, at the end of a formidable first period. "Every time we defend well, it gives us rhythm offensively ," analyzed Matthew Strazel afterward, on the broadcaster's microphone. Then it remained to contain the inevitable revolt of ASVEL (59-50, 28th minute), which was done brilliantly, thanks to a plural strike force (five players between 12 and 21 points, Strazel the top scorer). A slap everywhere, ball in the center: see you in Monaco on Sunday for the 3rd round!
"I'd like to repeat what I told my players before the match, but I can't (smiles). It was a different performance, with a different approach. We played with a real sense of urgency, being focused on both ends of the floor. We showed a better attitude."
Pierric Poupet (ASVEL coach)"Perhaps we had forgotten the true level of Monaco, this is a reminder. Monaco played a very good match and deserved their victory ten times over. When the Monegasques play like that, we are not able to stop them... We will now see if we want to show things to Gaston-Médecin."
Terry Tarpey (Monaco winger)"On Tuesday, we were all disappointed by the way we played. We lived up to our DNA and played a real playoff game. We told ourselves it was important for us to step up our defense and intensity, and that we wouldn't do anything without the right attitude. "
Nice Matin
