Monaco Mauls Paris: Roca Team Back with a Vengeance. Championship Beckons!

How quickly expectations change. The Roca team blitzed Game 1 against Paris and looked like their road to retaining the Championship was going to be a breeze. Then they had a miserable Game 2 which was a cruel wake-up call.

Well wake-up they certainly did in Game 3. And what’s more they did it in Paris.
AS Monaco came back with a vengeance in Game 3 of the Betclic Élite Finals, overpowering Paris Basketball with an 88-59 victory. This dominant display puts Monaco just one win away from clinching the title.

Game 3 was pivotal. With the series tied after Paris’s win in Game 2, Monaco needed a strong comeback. They delivered, setting the tone from the outset. Right from the first quarter, Monaco’s defensive strategy stifled Paris’s offense. The Roca Team’s well-coordinated defense prevented Paris from finding their rhythm, while effective offensive rebounds created second-chance opportunities. Sharp shooting, especially from beyond the arc, led by Elie Okobo, further extended their lead. By the end of the first quarter, Monaco was comfortably ahead, 28-14.

Paris lost confidence as their shots continued to miss and turnovers increased. Monaco capitalized on these errors with powerful dunks from Donta Hall and Petr Cornelie, widening the gap. Although Paris managed some defensive stops to slow Monaco’s advance, they remained behind. By halftime, Monaco led 46-35, having limited Paris’s star players Hifi and Shorts.

In the second half, Paris continued to struggle, even missing free throws. Monaco, though less sharp, remained in control. They extended their lead with standout plays, punishing Paris’s turnovers immediately. Contributions from Jordan Loyd and Mike James bolstered Monaco’s three-point shooting, pushing the lead to 57-39. An incredible buzzer-beater by Elie Okobo silenced the Parisian crowd, and a play by Matthew Strazel early in the final quarter sealed Paris’s fate.

Monaco’s superiority was evident in all aspects of the game. The final score, 88-59, reflected the vast difference between the two teams that night.

With a 2-1 lead in the series, Monaco needs just one more victory to secure the title. Paris Basketball faces a daunting challenge next Wednesday at the Adidas Arena, where they must find a way to overturn the reigning champions and force a final game in Monaco.