By Alex Molina / info@eurohoops.net
As the decisive play-in clash between Barça and Monaco approaches, Will Clyburn made it clear that mentality could be the defining factor in a high-stakes encounter where only one team will advance.
“You always want to play games like this,” Clyburn said ahead of the trip. “On the road it’s going to be a tough game, they are a good team, but the hungrier team is gonna win the game. We hope to be the hungrier team.”
Monaco’s individual talent, however, poses a significant challenge. Clyburn highlighted the offensive firepower led by Mike James and Elie Okobo, two players capable of taking over games almost single-handedly.
“They are one hell of a challenge. Especially guys like Mike James, Elie Okobo… They can run the offense by themselves, with nobody else,” he explained. “We have to come out there and try to contain them as much as possible. They are great players—we are not going to be able to completely stop them, but we need to contain them and not let them get other people involved. That’s going to be the key.”
The matchup also carries echoes of last season, when Monaco edged Barça in a dramatic Game 5 to secure a Final Four berth. While Clyburn was not part of that encounter, he acknowledged its emotional weight within the locker room. “I had nothing to do with that one, but I talked with Kevin Punter about it. I told him, ‘This is a revenge game.’ We will see what happens tomorrow,” Clyburn said with a hint of anticipation.
Despite the win-or-go-home stakes, Clyburn emphasized the importance of staying composed and sticking to the team’s identity. “We approach the game as every other game: one game at a time. Obviously it is a do-or-die situation, but we have to play basketball—we can’t put pressure on ourselves. We’ve got to go there and play like we have our whole life.”