The basketball players of Monaco took a big step towards the final of the French championship on Saturday by pocketing a second victory (79-72) against Pau-Orthez, without really giving the impression of forcing, in their semi-final disputed at the best of the five matches.
After counting up to 18 points in advance at the end of the third quarter, the men of Sasa Obradovic saw the players of Elan Béarnais come back to -6 with a little more than two minutes from the end, but a last acceleration allowed the Monegasques to secure this second victory in a row at home.
The Palois suffered in particular on Saturday in the rebound, a sector where they were largely dominated by the Monegasques, who offered themselves the luxury of picking up 20 offensive takes (44-26 in total), offering as many second chances to Mike James (13 points, 5 assists), Dwayne Bacon (20 points, 5 rebounds), Alpha Diallo (13 points, 8 rebounds) and their teammates.
Already largely defeated in the first game (94-65), the Béarnais, carried in particular on Saturday by their pocket leader Justin Bibbins (1.73 m, 19 points, 7 assists) and the selection teammate of NBA star Luka Doncic , the Slovenian Gregor Hrovat (19 points at 4/5 at 3 points), will be back to the wall during the third meeting, Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. in Pau.
Monaco, new big engine of the French championship for several seasons (2nd budget of the Elite behind Villeurbanne), winner of the Eurocoupe (antechamber of the Euroleague) in 2021 and which rose to the quarter-finals of the Euroleague this season, still hunting for a first title of champion of France.