Monaco beat Asvel Lyon-Villeurbanne 83 to 80 on Monday evening in its Gaston-Médecin hall and leads 2 to 1 after the third match of the French basketball championship final. On Wednesday evening, the Roca Team will be crowned for the first time if they win.
Under the eyes of Prince Albert, Tony Parker, the president of Asvel, or the actor and rapper JoeyStarr, this third round offered a very good opposition. The end of the meeting was even breathtaking. But the Monegasques Paris Lee or Will Thomas did not crack in the money time, scoring decisive free throws.
After a first quarter where the giant Villeurbannais Youssoupha Fall distinguished himself (eight points, one rebound) and where TJ Parker’s men raced in the lead (20-16, 10th), the Monegasque defense tightened its vice until half-time.
Under the impetus of Alpha Diallo, and especially of Paris Lee, ball thief and very skilful at three points (3/3 during the second quarter), the players of Sasa Obradovic reversed the trend. After dominating the second quarter 23-13, the Roca Team had a six-point lead at the break (39-33).
Okobo vs. Bacon
The third quarter mainly gave rise to a duel from a distance between the Villeurbannais Elie Okobo and the Monegasque Dwayne Bacon. In this little game, the French international was very strong (17 points after 30 minutes). He allowed his people to pick up (49-48, 26th), but Diallo’s defense and Bacon’s reaction served to control the Rhodaniens’ comeback (59-56 before the last quarter).
In a close end to the game, Monaco released the unlikely shot: that of pivot Donatas Motiejunas in a three-point corner one minute from time (78-72). Okobo, author of 25 points, still found the possibility of passing a new three-point shot (78-75). But it was not enough, and Monaco now have a significant advantage with two match points.