Without ever trembling, Monaco reached the semi-finals of the Leaders Cup by easily mastering Le Mans (94-81) Friday in Saint-Chamond, in the vicinity of Saint-Etienne. The years follow one another and are not the same for the Roca Team, ejected in the quarters last year by Bourg-en-Bresse (102-92). Le Mans' mission appeared impossible from the quarter of an hour into the game, when Mike James's team (11 points and 4 assists) had already taken a 28-length lead (51-23). And as three matches in three days await Monaco to win the trophy and maintain their ambition for a treble in France, Sasa Obradovic has divided up the playing times. None of his men cracked the floor for more than 22 minutes. Six of them also reached the ten-point threshold.
ASM must face the winner of the final quarter between Paris and Saint-Quentin on Saturday in the semi-final, for a place in the final against JL Bourg or Nanterre, opposed in the other half.