By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
AS Monaco did not just drop Game 3 and homecourt advantage in the Betclic Elite Finals 2026 on Friday evening at Salle Gaston Medecin. As detailed by BeBasket’s Gabriel Pantel-Jouve on Saturday, the hosts also displayed a total lack of control over their frustration down the stretch, when the tide turned and allowed Paris to go up 2–1 in the best-of-five series. Dominated by an intense defensive adjustment from the visitors after halftime, La Roca Team gradually lost their composure before completely collapsing in the final minutes.
The underlying tensions finally boiled over in crunch time. After Alpha Diallo converted an inside basket off an offensive rebound, the 28-year-old forward immediately confronted the officiating crew to protest a no-call. His repeated complaints earned him a second technical foul and his subsequent ejection, an infraction that instantly triggered a furious reaction from teammate Matthew Strazel. The 23-year-old guard completely lost his temper, launching a verbal tirade at referee Mehdi Difallah, and was tossed as well on a second technical foul.
The ensuing official match reports have only intensified the pressure on the team guided by Sergiy Gladyr. The refereeing crew fully detailed the outbursts of both players, alongside a separate incident involving a local supporter who allegedly made contact with an official after the buzzer.
These disciplinary threats put a fitting cap on a turbulent 2025–26 campaign plagued by financial difficulties, roster instability, the midseason departure of head coach Vassilis Spanoulis, and the anticipated demotion from the EuroLeague to the BKT EuroCup.
With possible sanctions expected to be considered after Game 4 due to time restrictions, the squad must now quickly regroup for Sunday’s home meeting to force a deciding Game 5 back in France’s capital.
Betclic Elite Playoffs 2026
Quarterfinals (best-of-three)
Paris – SIG Strasbourg 2-1 (95-64, 82-87, 89-75)
LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne – Cholet 1-2 (75-67, 65-77, 75-80)
AS Monaco – JL Bourg 2-0 (81-75, 114-103)
Nanterre 92 – Le Mans 2-0 (90-74, 64-55)
Semifinals (best-of-five)
AS Monaco – Nanterre 92 3-1 (103-88, 89-98, 61-83, 78-89)
Paris – Cholet 3-1 (89-90 100-77, 95-86, 94-91)
Finals (best-of-five)
Paris – AS Monaco 2-1 (95-91, 90-102, 88-77)
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