In an atmosphere of madness to Gaston Doctor, the Roca Boys won the 2nd qualification of their history for the final of the Euroleague, by beating FC Barcelona from a point (85-84) after an unbreakable match 5. Go to Abu Dhabi in two weeks to challenge Olympiakos.
This Tuesday evening, the Gaston Doctor room vibrated as rarely it did it for this decisive 5th match between AS Monaco Basket and FC Barcelona. After winning the first two rounds at home, then suffered two setbacks in Catalonia during Games 3 and 4, the players in the rock were back to the wall.
In a disputed meeting with pulled knives, the Monegasques made their physique and their aggressiveness speak to finally win on the wire (85-84). The last shot of Punter, the strong man of Barça, was perfectly disputed by a Imperial Papagianis Georgios, allowing the Roca Boys to keep their precious advantage.
An evening that supporters will remember
On closed counters, the Monegasque room offered an incandescent atmosphere comparable to the largest European evenings already experienced on the rock. The 5,000 spectators, real sixth men, pushed their protégés in a context recalling the exploits passed against Fenerbahçe last season and the Maccabi Tel Aviv two years ago.
- This collective success, torn from the mind, was built in a meeting at the four-quarter-played quarter (15-19, 30-20, 20-23, 20-22). The band at Mike James notably made the difference in the second quarter before resisting the Catalan return.
« We wanted to make the match hard, for Barcelona. Opposite, it was a very big team, they pushed us in our entrenchments. After the first two games, some were already seeing us in the Final Four and unconsciously too. Tonight, I am happy with victory and qualification. In life, we always learn from our experiences, the half of two years ago and the game 5 of last season will certainly serve us. I do not realize yet but it was a clear goal of the start of the season. You check this box and now you go to do something. We will do everything for 40 minutes to win Said the captain.
Cap on Abu Dhabi and Olympiakos
This precious success sends AS Monaco Basket in the Final Four for the second time in its history, two years after its first historical qualification. The Monegasques will find Olympiakos in the semi-finals in two weeks in Abu Dhabi, an opponent whom they had already faced during their first participation. See you on Friday May 23 at 10 p.m. local time (8 p.m. French time).
« I am proud of my players and my staff. The whole team released a big performance with heart. It was a very difficult match, we expected, Barcelona came with ambition. We were warned. Georgios Papagiannis has delivered a huge match. I knew he was going to bring us a lot in the game. He was precious under the circle and in the game. But I don’t want to talk about a single player, tonight it’s a team victory. The Final Four? For the club, qualifying was a goal. The club grows every year, it is important for progress. We go to Abu Dhabi to win. All teams will have 25% chance of winning. We too. Olympiakos? Everyone knows what this club represents for me but for 40 minutes, I will give everything for my team and my club, Monaco “Said coach Vassilis Spanoulis.
