Monaco has its back to the wall. Beaten this Wednesday on the floor of Fenerbahçe (89-78), the Monegasques are in great difficulty in the quarter-finals of the Euroleague, led two sets to one by the Istanbulites who will have the home advantage on Friday during the fourth round . The “Roca Team” had missed its entry a week ago by losing at home (91-95), before recovering two days later by snatching a victory 93 to 88. It fell again against Fener in the boiling Ulker Sports Arena in Istanbul.
Coming out in the lead in the first quarter (19-21), the Monegasques took on water in the second, reaching half-time seven lengths behind (47-40) over the more realistic Turks. Fener, carried by its public and its experienced Greek leader Nick Calathes (13 pts, 2nd best scorer of the Turkish team), did not let go of its prey until the final whistle.
The Monegasques now have the difficult task of winning two matches in a row against the Istanbulites to see the last four of the C1 for the second time in their history. The fourth match is scheduled for this Friday at 7:45 p.m., before a possible match 5, at the Salle Gaston-Médecin in Monaco, on Wednesday May 8. The Final Four, between the four winners of the quarter-finals, will take place in Berlin.
