By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
In the lead from start to finish, including multiple peaks with an advantage larger than ten points, AS Monaco completed the three-game sweep over JL Bourg with a win, 85-71, in Ekinox Saturday.
The latest success for the team coached by Sasa Obradovic earned a spot in the championship series of France’s Betclic ELITE LNB Pro A.
Connecting 9/17 field goals, Donatas Motiejunas scored 22 points to match his individual high for the 2022-23 season. The Lithuanian center added seven rebounds and two assists in Game 3 of the Semifinals best-of-five series.
Jordan Loyd, Elie Okobo, and Mike James followed with 12 points each. The latter netting a coast-to-coast buzzer-beater to end the first half delivered a huge blow to the comeback bid of the hosts. In the second half, La Roca Team eventually restored a double-digit cushion for the knockout.
Mike James beats the buzzer in style as Monaco settles in a four-point lead at the break #PlayoffsBetclicELITEpic.twitter.com/dpQCKBJSAB
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) June 3, 2023
Playing at home in a Semifinals game of France’s top-flight division for the first time in team history, Bourg fell short and was eliminated. Ghanaian center Amida Brimah, an NCAA champion with Connecticut in 2014, set his season-high at 16 points and went for 15 points in the latest losing effort. Jordan Floyd shared the team-high 15 points.
Wemby or ASVEL
Similar to Game 1, Chima Moneke and Donta Hall were left out of the Game 3 lineup due to league restrictions on foreign players available. Loyd with a minor foot injury and Jaron Blossomgame were both ruled out by Monaco for Game 2.
Seeking the first league championship in France in team history, reaching the season-ending series qualifies as the case for the fourth time since 2018. Carrying the homecourt advantage as the regular-season winners, Metropolitans 92 or LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne is up next in a best-of-five series.
On the opposite side of the Playoffs bracket, Victor Wembanyama’s side enjoys a 2-1 lead. Game 4 will be played in ASVEL’s Astroballe tomorrow, Sunday. Game 5, if necessary, would switch venues back in favor of the Mets.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net