The Roca Team moved one step closer to another Betclic Élite final after defeating Nanterre 92 103-88 in Game 1 of their semi-final series at Salle Gaston Médecin on Monday, June 1.
Despite once again being hampered by injuries and absences, Monaco produced a dominant final quarter to break open a closely contested encounter and take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series.
The Roca Team entered the game with a depleted roster, still without Mike James, Daniel Theis, Nikola Mirotić and Alpha Diallo. However, the return of Juhann Begarin provided a welcome boost for head coach Sergii Gladyr as Monaco looked to build on its quarter-final sweep of JL Bourg.
Nanterre arrived in the Principality full of confidence after eliminating Le Mans Sarthe Basket in straight games, and the visitors quickly showed why they had finished third in the regular-season standings. Although Monaco found early success through Terry Tarpey and Matthew Strazel, a series of turnovers allowed Nanterre to seize momentum and edge ahead 27-24 at the end of the opening quarter.
The hosts responded strongly in the second period, tightening up defensively and launching an 11-1 run to regain control. Strazel orchestrated the offence with authority while Nemanja Nedović provided valuable scoring support. Monaco appeared poised to take a comfortable lead into the break before Nanterre caught fire from beyond the arc, draining four consecutive three-pointers to snatch a narrow 50-49 advantage at half-time.
The contest remained finely balanced throughout the third quarter. Jaron Blossomgame repeatedly delivered for Monaco, combining inside scoring with timely perimeter shooting, while Strazel continued to punish Nanterre’s defence. The Roca Team gradually regained the upper hand and entered the final ten minutes leading 72-68.
Monaco then produced its most convincing basketball of the evening. Begarin energised the crowd with a powerful three-point play, Yoan Makoundou delivered a momentum-shifting defensive block, and Elie Okobo helped orchestrate a decisive run that pushed the lead into double figures.
From that point, the hosts never looked back. Blossomgame and Strazel both finished with 23 points, leading a balanced offensive effort that saw Monaco surpass the 100-point mark and comfortably close out the victory.
The result gives the Principality club an early advantage in the semi-final series, with Game 2 scheduled to take place at Gaston Médecin before the action shifts to Nanterre. Monaco remains on course to add another domestic title to a season that has already produced silverware, but the performance also highlighted the resilience of a squad continuing to overcome significant personnel challenges.
