Euroleague: on the wire, Monaco beats Valencia and climbs onto the podium

After the slap received on Wednesday at home against Milan (80-98), Monaco returned with difficulty to victory against the Spaniards of Valencia (79-78) Friday evening, in its Gaston-Médecin room, and is getting closer to qualification for the play-offs. With 20 wins and 11 defeats, Monaco remains in the Top 5 of the Euroleague after this 31st day. In fact, Sasa Obradovic's men are even part of the second three, tied with Panathinaikos and Barcelona. And this after the victory of the Greeks over the Catalans later this Friday (89-81).

The Monegasques, officially third, will travel to Villeurbanne to face Asvel, penultimate in the competition, next Thursday, before hosting Kaunas and Bayern Munich on the last two days of the regular season.

Victory took a long time to come for the Principality team, visibly tired by the busy schedule at the end of the season. She owes it to a very good Jaron Blossomgame in the first period (17 points in the end), to a real defensive and collective spirit symbolized by the match of Mike James (17 points, 4 assists, two blocks, two interceptions) and to a final saving rebound from pivot Donta Hall.

If the “Roca Team” started their meeting well with systematic attacks inside where Blossomgame shined (11 points in the first quarter) and where Valencia suffered (25-15, 10th), the second quarter was been very different. Gradually, the former Monegasque winner of the Eurocup with the Principality team in 2021, Damien Inglis, and his partners, returned to the match.

Yet clumsy at free throws (7/15) as well as at long distance (5/14), the Spaniards monopolized the ball to come back to two points (29-27, 17th) and reach the break with only four points to go. catch up (38-34). Without the esthete Jordan Loyd, still struggling with his back and left to rest, without the worker Terry Tarpey, who will have knee surgery on Monday and who will be absent for six weeks, without John Brown III, Monaco had to draw in its resources to stay ahead. Besides, Sasa Obradovic was not mistaken. He took a warning, then harangued when the Valencian Semi Ojeleye shot his two free throws (49-46, 25th).

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Certainly, the Monegasques were combative but they were rarely sovereign. on the contrary Valencia which, with Ojeleye very prominent in the second period, where he scored 19 of his 22 points, even went in front for the first time during the last quarter (59-61, 33rd). Monaco then tightened its defense. Hall came out of his box for two counter dunks (69-62, 35th). James scored an essential winning basket (75-68, 38th), before Hall gave the victory after a defensive rebound and two successful free throws.