Monaco’s Roca Team bounced back in the Betclic Elite, asserting their dominance with an 82-62 win over newly-promoted La Rochelle. The victory brings their league record to two wins and two losses, a welcome boost before the demanding double-header in the Euroleague against Barcelona and Virtus Bologna this week.
Game Recap
Coming off a hot Euroleague win against Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Monaco returned to domestic competition with the task of resetting their Betclic Elite campaign. This matchup against La Rochelle was a classic case of David vs. Goliath, with Monaco boasting the largest budget in the league and La Rochelle the smallest. Yet, that’s the unpredictable beauty of sport.
Monaco coach Sasa Obradovic faced selection challenges, with key players like Mike James, Nick Calathes, and Furkan Korkmaz still sidelined, along with Alpha Diallo who was rested. Obradovic’s starting lineup featured young talents like Matthew Strazel and Juhann Begarin, alongside seasoned pros like Donatas Motiejunas and Mam Jaiteh.
The game began sluggishly, with both teams struggling to find rhythm. Strazel opened the scoring, but it was Begarin who helped inject life into the early stages, draining a three-pointer and following up with sharp free-throws. Monaco quickly established control, racing to a 12-3 lead behind Begarin’s perimeter shooting and Jaiteh’s dominance inside. As the first quarter closed, Monaco was up 20-11, comfortably in control.
In the second quarter, Monaco’s defensive intensity kept La Rochelle at bay. Despite a brief surge from the visitors, Monaco maintained their advantage thanks to Strazel’s three-point shooting and Motiejunas’ court vision, extending their lead to 36-21. By halftime, Monaco led by 17 points, well-positioned for a straightforward victory.
Monaco Keeps La Rochelle at Arm’s Length
The second half saw a renewed effort from La Rochelle, particularly through their energetic guard Sessoms, who helped close the gap to six points at 47-41. However, Monaco’s experience showed when they needed it most. Jaron Blossomgame delivered clutch plays from the corner, while Papagiannis’ presence inside helped them restore a double-digit lead.
By the end of the third quarter, Monaco had weathered La Rochelle’s best effort and still held a 57-48 advantage. Despite La Rochelle’s attempts to fight back, Monaco never really looked in danger. Blossomgame and Vitto Brown stepped up in the final quarter to seal the deal, while Elie Okobo added some mid-range baskets to push the score to 70-55.
As the final moments of the game unfolded, Obradovic gave younger players a chance to shine. Young guard Taiga Okada scored his first points in the league, and Clarence Fondeur capped off the night with a buzzer-beating three-pointer. The 82-62 win was a perfect send-off ahead of Monaco’s crucial Euroleague week.
Looking Ahead
With this win, Monaco is back on track in the French league, shaking off an inconsistent start to their domestic campaign. Up next is this tough week in Europe, with the trip to Barcelona followed by hosting Virtus Bologna—two matches that will test the Roca Team’s form and depth. For now, though, Monaco can take satisfaction in a job well done against La Rochelle.
