Everything was still playable, there was still a minute to go, Monaco had just completed a solid fourth quarter and were only four points behind Barça. The Monegasques held the ball but Alpha Diallo, exemplary so far, in obscure tasks and on the rebound (8) lost a ball that would never come back. Barça finally won in a crazy atmosphere as if it were a victory over Real (88-83). It is to the Monegasques’ credit to have aroused such enthusiasm.
They first held up well at the start of the match, which was preceded by this highlight when all the players held a banner « Stop the war » with the three referees, including the Ukrainian Borys Ryzhyk. Monaco also showed solidarity within the team with a collective game against the stars of Barça. The score was 20-20 after the first quarter but by the break the Catalans had sped up and the score was 42-36.
Calathes (Barça) becomes the best passer in the history of the Euroleague
Back from the locker room, Barça attacked hard in the second half thanks in particular to Nick Calathes, who became, thanks to a marvelous pass in the back, the best passer in the history of the Euroleague. We then thought Monaco lost for the cause but it was without counting on a tough defense and especially a Dwayne Bacon who had a hot hand in the 3rd quarter. Monaco thus returned to 66-62. And 8 minutes from the end, the two teams were tied 66 everywhere. The room was then incandescent.
Alas, the Monegasques will lack lucidity in the money time, they had spent so much energy to come back and could not prevent Barca from winning their 5th consecutive victory in the Euroleague. Even with the eviction of the Russian clubs, the Roca Team (8th) will have to hang on to get their ticket to the play-offs but if the Monegasques show the same temperament as this Thursday evening, anything is possible.
