By Eurohoops / amolina@eurohoops.net
AS Monaco Basket capped a remarkable 24-hour stretch by winning the French Cup with an 83–87 victory over Le Mans Basket, showing resilience and championship poise in a dramatic final.
The triumph came just a day after Monaco’s crucial win against FC Barcelona in the EuroLeague play-in, underlining the team’s momentum and mental toughness during a demanding stretch of the season while having few players.
Le Mans put up a fierce fight, led by Trevor Hudgins, who finished as the game’s top scorer with 22 points. Monaco responded through Alpha Diallo, who contributed 21 points, and Matthew Strazel, who added 20 in a balanced offensive effort.
Monaco appeared to be in control during the third quarter, opening up a 16-point lead. However, Le Mans mounted an impressive comeback, overturning the deficit to take an 80–78 lead and threaten an upset.
In the decisive moments, experience made the difference. Mike James and Diallo stepped up when it mattered most, delivering key plays down the stretch to swing the game back in Monaco’s favor and secure the title.