By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Preparing for a do-or-die Game 3 against Olympiacos this Tuesday in Salle Gaston Medecin, AS Monaco faces another addition to a growing injury list, further limiting options in a thinned rotation.
Despite a grueling overtime victory against SIG Strasbourg at the Rhenus Sport in Round 28 of France’s Betclic Elite Regular Season on Sunday, La Roca Team has paid a heavy physical price. Assistant coach Sergii Gladyr confirmed following the domestic win that the Best Defender of the 2025-26 EuroLeague Regular Season, Alpha Diallo, has been sidelined and will be unavailable for the upcoming games.
His absence looms large as his side trails 2–0 in this best-of-five series for a spot in the 2026 EuroLeague Final Four Athens, presented by Etihad. The 28-year-old forward has been a cornerstone of the ongoing EuroLeague campaign, averaging 11.9 points and 4.4 rebounds across 42 starts.
Diallo’s updated status follows a domestic outing where Monaco was forced to suit up just seven professional players. “We had seven players who gave a lot of energy, and there was accumulated fatigue,” Gladyr noted, while praising the squad’s resilience. “It was important for us to get back to winning ways and regain our winning mentality.”
The medical report remains a significant hurdle as they fight for a Final Four ticket. While Gladyr indicated that Diallo will be out for ‘the next few weeks’, the team is also grappling with the extended absence of Nikola Mirotic. There was a glimmer of hope on the horizon for Daniel Theis, but the German center was officially ruled out for Game 3 due to a finger injury in Game 2. However, Juhann Begarin is expected to be available for head coach Manuchar Markoishvili.
Domestically, Monaco improved their record to 22-5, officially securing the top seed and homecourt advantage for the Playoffs. Yet, the immediate focus remains on survival in Europe. To keep their continental season alive and force a Game 4 on Thursday, Monaco must find a way to dismantle the Reds’ momentum without several of their primary weapons. If they can defend home court, the series would aim for a potential Game 5 decider at the Peace and Friendship Stadium on May 12.