We call it a job well done. After a difficult start, the Roca Team took the measure of Chalon-sur-Saône to win this first match of 2025 at home in style (109-82). Collectively, the Monegasques were once again there. The main information lies in the fact that Monaco validates its ticket for the Leaders Cup. We are now heading towards a big week, with a Coupe de France match in Blois on Tuesday, Barça's reception in the Euroleague on Thursday, and a trip to Nanterre in the championship on Saturday to finish. The dantesque month of January is well and truly underway.
THE MATCH
For this 14th day of Betclic Elite and first match of the year 2025 at the foot of the Rock, the Roca Team welcomes Chalon-sur-Saône. The ambition of Mike James and co is obviously to consolidate his place in the top 4 of the championship. On the other side of the field, the visitors are confident with three consecutive victories. Distrust is therefore required.
During this meeting, Vassilis Spanoulis must still do without the injured Alpha Diallo. Elie Okobo and Georgios Papagiannis are also left to rest in the stands. The Asemist coach's starting five is made up of Mike James, Matthew Strazel, Juhann Begarin, Vitto Brown and Donatas Motiejunas. Elric Delord opts for Stockton, Ristic, Hill, Cuthbertson and Gaudoux.
The start of the match is clearly to the advantage of Chalon-sur-Saône who arrives in Monaco with the desire to play hard. Gaudoux draws fouls and dominates in the paint. While Stockton is very agile in the lead. The team with the most skill at three points quickly takes a 5-point lead (10-15). For the Monegasques, Mike James scored 6 points and kept his team close on the scoreboard.
Mike James continues his festival with a three-pointer of which he alone has the secret in transition play (13-15). But the visitors immediately responded with Morris planting two banderillas in quick succession (13-20). Mam Jaiteh takes the offensive rebound to score her first units in the game (15-20).
Chalon continues on his merry way with Morris who causes the foul and gets two shots. They are converted (15-22). Nick Calathes with all his malice pushes his defender to get to the circle (17-22). Monaco defended a little better in these last two minutes of Q1 and took the opportunity to get closer. At the buzzer finally, Chalon keeps its five lengths lead (22-27).
In transition, Chalon hits the mark once again at three points while ASM has a lot of difficulty putting its game in place. 10 points ahead are taken by the Elric Delord gang (22-32). Petr Cornelie causes a foul under the circle and makes his two shots (24-32). The latter shines again from the baseline on a pass from Donatas Motiejunas and scores with the bonus throw (27-33). But the former Monegasque Choupas also hurts at three points (27-36).
Chalon maintains its lead and the Roca Team is unable to make a real series for the moment. Matthew Strazel does good with a long distance basket, but behind him he is carried away by Gaudoux, more solid than him under the circle (32-40). After 15 minutes of play and with 8 points behind, Vassilis Spanoulis takes his first timeout in this game.
A beneficial timeout exit with Nick Calathes who penetrates and Jordan Loyd who draws from long distance in stride (37-40). Elric Delord takes his turn, Monaco is only three points away. Matthew Strazel adds another layer to equalize (40-40). Hill puts the visitors' house in order with a three-pointer and Choupas adds two shots (40-45).
Vitto Brown scores five consecutive points and puts the two teams back to back (45-45). Collectively, ASM stepped on the accelerator and Mam Jaiteh scored with the mistake (48-45). She has just inflicted a 16-5 on her opponent. The Roca Team finished this first half very strong with a 22-9. At the break, there are therefore 5 points in advance for Vassilis Spanoulis and his men (54-49).
Returning from the locker room, Vassilis Spanoulis chose to return to the field with Nick Calathes, Jordan Loyd, Mike James, Vitto Brown and Mam Jaiteh. Mike James begins the second act as he began the first. He hits the mark with a T3 (57-49). And Jordan Loyd also continues to be hot (60-51). Stockton maintains his team with a long distance shot (60-54).
The two teams go head to head behind the 7.5 meter line. There is indeed a match with Elan who are hanging on and are only four points behind (63-59). In transition, Mike James serves Jordan Loyd who goes to the circle (65-61). Mike James in top scorer mode once again rose to three points (69-61). The Monegasques take an 8-point lead.
Mam Jaiteh does a lot of work in the paint, and Jordan Loyd is as skillful as ever (71-63). Cuthberson is also very active for Chalon, but Jordan Loyd, being the real killer that he is, creates a first real break in this meeting. 10 points ahead are taken by the Roca Team, and Elric Delord takes his time out (74-64).
Hill scores from long distance out of the timeout, but Jordan Loyd is simply in the zone and responds. Jaron Blossomgame widens the gap a little further, well served in the paint by Matthew Strazel (79-67). At the dawn of the last ten minutes, the Roca Team has a 13-point lead (83-70).
Matthew Strazel runs the game perfectly, and Petr Cornelie gives it his all to finish with a furious dunk. Just like Nick Calathes who plants three points, and Matthew Strazel also (93-76). The French international leader is in double-double mode this evening (17 points, 10 assists). Nothing will change, the Roca Team exceeds the 100 point mark, and has once again enjoyed itself. In the end it was a 27-point victory (109-82).
THEY SAID
Vassilis Spanoulis (coach of the Roca Team): ” It was a good game for us after the first quarter, during which we weren't focused enough. Then it was very good. We finished with 29 assists and Chalon finished with 23 lost balls. We shared the ball well again, the guys were incredible in defense. They know, we need everyone to go far. Over 30 minutes we won by 32 points. We shot well too. »
Nick Calathes (leader of the Roca Team): “ It's incredible for me the feeling to be back in the team. It will take me a little time to be at the level I want to be, but I feel like I'm getting better with each match. The whole team had a good game tonight, not being selfish, having everyone involved, that's the key for us. »
Elric Delord (Chalon coach): “We played against the best team in Europe, we must not forget that. But I loved the match. We were able to calibrate ourselves in the face of great adversity. We lost energy by talking too much with the referees, it was useless. »
Lionel Gaudoux (captain of Chalon): “ We got off to a really good start to the match. But afterwards Monaco changed its way of defending. We see them playing on TV every week in the Euroleague, but under pressure it was more difficult for us. »
THE TECHNICAL SHEET
In Monaco, Gaston Médecin room, AS Monaco beats Chalon-sur-Saône 109-82 (22-27, 32-22, 29-21, 26-12)
Monaco: 39 out of 69 shots (15/31 at 3-pts), 16 LF out of 20, 25 rebounds (Jaiteh 7), 29 assists (Strazel 10, 8 interceptions, 9 lost balls. The mark: Loyd 20, Strazel 19 , James 17, Brown 15, Cornelie 11, Jaiteh 10, Calathes 8, Motiejunas 4, Blossomgame 2, Tarpey 2, Begarin 1.
Chalon: 29 out of 55 shots (9/21 at 3-pts), 15 LF out of 20, 33 rebounds (Ristic 7), 14 assists (Stockton 6), 5 interceptions, 23 lost balls.
The brand: Naji 12, Ristic 12, Morris 11, Gaudoux 11, Stockton 10, Cuthbertson 8, Hill 8, Choupas 7, Cortale 3, Tonnelier.
