By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
After building a double-digit lead in the third quarter, AS Monaco repelled a late rally to defeat Le Mans, 85-76, in Salle Gaston Medecin.
With a best-of-three series in the Quarterfinals of France’s Betclic Elite Playoffs tied at 1-1 and navigating a close decider throughout the first half, Matthew Strazel beat the halftime buzzer with a three-pointer, before his side scored the first seven points of the second half to create a distance of ten points. The separation peaked at 16 points in the fourth quarter. The visitors then poured in ten unanswered points, but the team coached by Vassilis Spanoulis held on down the stretch.
Elie Okobo ended up with a game-high 23 points, making 7/12 from the field on Sunday. Team captain Alpha Diallo followed with 16 points. Dealing with a hand injury, Mike James remained sidelined. Donatas Motiejunas and Daniel Theis also sat out Game 3. Despite suiting up, Vitto Brown and Juhann Begarin did not play.
Advancing to the Semifinals, the back-to-back champions will face second-seeded LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne in a best-of-five series. The homecourt advantage belongs to the team guided by Pierric Poupet.
Play In Tournament
Elan Chalon – JDA Dijon 106-85
SLUC Nancy – Saint-Quentin 81-88
JDA Dijon – Saint-Quentin 92-79
Playoffs
Quarterfinals (best of three)
Paris – JDA Dijon 2-1 (100-87, 79-80, 114-88)
Cholet – JL Bourg 0-2 (71-95, 89-94)
LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne – Elan Chalon 2-1 (100-96, 69-76, 99-75)
AS Monaco – Le Mans 2-1 (76-69, 87-88, 85-76)
Semifinals (best of five)
Paris – JL Bourg
LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne – AS Monaco
Finals (best of five)
Winners of Semifinals
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net