Thank you "Magic Mike": Monaco, winner on the floor of Maccabi Tel Aviv (83-78) Tuesday thanks to its star Mike James, has regained the advantage (2-1) in its series of quarterfinals of Euroleague and can conclude Thursday, again in Israel. ASM is only one game away from imitating 26 years after Asvel, the last club in the France Championship present in the last four of the queen of continental competitions in 1997.

🏀 Roca Team's feat!

Monaco wins on the floor of Maccabi Tel Aviv and leads 2-1 in the series #lequipeBASKET pic.twitter.com/UEgMQKkdmI

— the channel L'Équipe (@lachainelequipe) May 2, 2023

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And if this Thursday did not smile on the Roca Team, it could still conclude next week at home, in its Gaston-MĂ©decin room, in a fifth and final game to book its ticket for the Final Four in Kaunas (May 19-21). "We were able to keep our calm for 40 minutes," said winger Alpha Diallo, highlighting the mental qualities of his team.

10,000 fans in fusion

The Menora Mivtachim Arena, full of more than 10,000 yellow and blue devotees, was up to the promised hell but it is a little Monegasque devil who came out of this box: Mike James, 21 points piled up including 18 in an extraordinary first part of the match.

If the club of the Rock has managed to imitate Barcelona and Red Star Belgrade, the only two teams to have triumphed over Maccabi at home in this Euroleague season, it owes it especially to its number 55 who launched it in this game 3.

Very discreet since the beginning of the series, with 15 then 11 points scored, "The Natural" was ablaze in the Menora Mivtachim Arena. Perhaps the effect of the hostile reception on the forecourt of the room where a bodyguard grabbed him by the sleeve to guide him inside.

Aggressiveness at the rendezvous

And when Mike James, still chasing a first Euroleague title, lost success, Elie Okobo took over. The French international compiled 12 points but especially a decisive steal with 32 seconds left at the buzzer (78-71) before getting the foul.

A small revenge on Lorenzo Brown, the American leader of Maccabi Tel Aviv naturalized Spanish, who tortured the Blues in the final of the last Eurobasket at the end of summer.

Third tooth of the Monegasque trident Jordan Loyd (15 points) punished Maccabi from behind the line (3/6). And more generally, the entire Roca Team responded to the hostility with an aggressiveness at the rendezvous, like its 12 offensive rebounds (against nine in front). All while the men of the Rock had to work against Cholet on Sunday when those of Tel Aviv are entirely turned to this appointment since Thursday.

  • Sport
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