By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Monaco got the job done with Mike James leading the way against ALBA Berlin. In what was an uneventful game, the hosts prevailed with the final score being 86-75.
James scored in total 17 points, leading a solid team effort, as six players scored 8 or more points and the winners got a 2-2 record.
On the contrary, ALBA got 17 points from Matt Thomas, 15 points from Sterling Brown, and 10 from Delow Malte, but not much else from the rest.
Monaco started the game strong with a 12-3 run, but at the end of the first quarter, ALBA trailed by two (18-16) and got a 21-20 lead after a shot by Brown forcing coach Sasa Obradovic to take an early timeout.
As he said after the game: “We fulfilled the contract, namely to win at home in front of our fans. Against Berlin, we wanted to win and I tried to bring in rotation to get all the players in”.
With Kemba Walker scoring all his five points of the night and dishing one assist, Monaco reacted and took a 34-25 lead after a 14-4 run. The hosts kept things in check and completed the first half leading by seven (47-40).
Obradovic added on Walker: “It’s great to have Kemba Walker as a person on the team, and it’s very interesting to see what he can produce on the field. Despite his lack of rhythm, and his adaptation to the European game, he has the genes of a champion, he never complains”.
That was just the start for Monaco which got a 14-point advantage (60-46) and the third quarter and pretty much controlled things until the end.
ALBA remains tied with ASVEL at the bottom of the standings, not having a win after four rounds of play.
Despite that, coach Israel Gonzalez had some positive words for his team: “Congratulations to Monaco for the victory. Despite the defeat, I am quite satisfied with my team. We need to improve on a lot of things. There are positive elements to remember even if we were not able to win. We grow together, and it will take time”.
Photo credit: Turkish Airlines EuroLeague