This is a tough blow for Monaco. While it led the entire match, the Roca Team ended up losing on Wednesday evening in the quarter-finals of the Euroleague basketball against the Turks of Fenerbahçe (91-95) in its Gaston-Médecin hall. She therefore loses home advantage, because in this three-win series, she will have to win at least once in Istanbul, where Fener has only lost two European matches this season, to reach the Final Competition oven.
Monaco squandered a nine-point lead (74-65) 4’30 from the end, negotiating very poorly, notably a last possession at 81-81. Miraculously, Fenerbahçe did not miss its chance in overtime, carried by Nick Calathes (17 points) and Nigel Hayes-Davis (19 points), who extinguished the suspense thanks to two long-distance shots.
“They played “small-ball” (with small sizes and favoring outside play). We did not expect that. We lacked intelligence in reading the game, and in what makes the difference in this kind of moment” analyzed the Serbian coach of Monaco, Sasa Obradovic.
Last year’s example
So here is the Principality team with its back to the wall. She will already have to win, still at home, in the second match scheduled for Friday evening, before traveling to Turkey. “The series is far from over. I believe in our ability to respond. During the next meeting, we will have to show character,” commented Obradovic.
To give themselves hope, the Monegasques can always think of last season, where they also lost the first match at home against Maccabi Tel Aviv, before qualifying in match 5 for the first Final Four of their history.