The drama had been set in the first game. Monaco suffered a heavy defeat, losing 94‑74 to ASVEL in that game in Lyon, their worst in the series. After Villeurbanne shaking the Principality, in Game 2, Monaco returned the favour, claiming a dominant 94‑77 win away from home. Many still wondered: was this going to be a game by game dramatic tug-of-war or a takeover?
Symphony of Fire
If Game 3 had a soundtrack, it was a jazz-fuelled storm, electric, and relentless. Elie Okobo conducted the chaos with poise, dropping 14 points slicing through defenders. Around him, Strazel danced, Diallo drove, and the entire squad moved like a well-oiled machine.
By the third quarter, Monaco weren’t just playing — they were performing. Villeurbanne’s resistance wilted under the weight of Monaco’s tempo. The Rock shook. Score: Monaco 94 – Villeurbanne 77.
If Game 3 had all the look of Roca waltzing toward a place in the final, Villeurbanne ripped up that script with venom. No slow dance to victory for Roca. We were in for a dramatic twist in Game 4 with Monaco trailing and the tides turned.
The Slow Burn Before the Burst
For three quarters, Monaco found themselves on the back foot. Villeurbanne played with ferocity, every drive, every rebound, every three-pointer felt calculated to wear down the home side. Monaco trailed, not by a few points, but by double digits, as Villeurbanne seized rhythm and confidence.
The momentum was slipping away from the Rocher.
Then, the final quarter, the hour of reckoning. With thunderous drives, Alpha Diallo powered through defenses starting to slice into Villeurbanne’s lead. His aggression sparked the comeback. Elie Okobo, who had flirted with anonymity early on suddenly found his form when it counted most, sinking a pair of clutch threes and threading passes that opened seams in Villeurbanne’s defense. As Monaco’s offense surged, Strazel became the team’s backbone on defense. Tight steals and game-turning stops shifted both possession and momentum.
This wasn’t about one star, it was about all: a cascade born of team discipline and belief. Each rebound and contested lay-up chipped away at Villeurbanne’s lead. The crowd sensed the shift. The arena buzzed with tension.
With a few minutes left, the board flipped. Monaco led, then extended. Monaco’s late-game composure, solidified by their improved free throw shooting, sealed the deal.
Trailed by 10 points entering Q4, you wouldn’t know it from the scoreboard by the end. The comeback wasn’t just a win—it was a statement. There was an immense fourth-quarter rally (25‑8) that Roca unleashed. In the final 8 minutes, Roca unanimously bulldozed Villeurbanne’s advantage by 20 points, winning Game 4, 91‑86.
With this roller-coaster triumph, Monaco sealed the semi-final series at 3–1 and punched their ticket to the finals.
It’s easy to ride the wave when you lead, but Athens nor the Principality wasn’t built in a day, and championships aren’t earned without adversity. Trailing in Game 4, Monaco didn’t crumble, they conjured a storm, full of fury and finesse, to snatch glory from the jaws of defeat.
And now, the finals await and Roca are coming ready even if scarred. Sharpened we cross fingers that they will be unstoppable.
Final Curtain Set: Monaco vs Paris Basketball
In the championship final, AS Monaco will face off against Paris Basketball, rekindling last season’s epic clash. Monaco came out on top in 2024, defeating Paris 3–1 to claim the title. This year, Paris holds the home-court advantage, but Monaco brings momentum, belief, and a secret weapon: resilience under pressure. Expect fireworks!
