Roca Team takes control with impressive win in Limoges
The Roca Team was merciless in Limoges © AS Monaco Basket
Last Sunday, the Roca Team was victorious on the CSP’s court at Beaublanc in the 6th round of the Betclic Élite league, recording a fourth consecutive league win and moving up to second place behind Le Mans.
It was the perfect ending to a fine week for AS Monaco Basket. After their two EuroLeague victories against the Greek clubs Olympiakos and Panathinaikos, Vassilis Spanoulis’s men did not have to push themselves to overcome Limoges (77-94), whose ranks were decimated by injuries.
Spectacular return for Yoan Makoundou
While Mike James and Daniel Theis were rested, AS Monaco Basket started the game at full throttle, leading by 20 points after the first quarter (11-31). Standing out above the rest was Yoan Makoundou. Sidelined with a shoulder injury, the 25-year-old centre made his season debut and lit up the game with his talent, scoring 16 points — the team’s top tally.
The margin widened even further before the break, with a 28-point lead for Elie Okobo and his teammates. The 28-year-old guard set the tempo in defence, adding 13 points and 6 assists. The only French club ever to win the EuroLeague, back in 1993, Limoges was completely outmatched, trailing by as many as 32 points midway through the third quarter (38-70). CSP, however, managed a small comeback, taking advantage of a brief lapse from the visitors to close the gap to sixteen points midway through the final period (61-77).
It was not enough, though, to trouble a Monaco side in fine form over the past few weeks, with six wins from their last seven games. Next up this Thursday at 8:05 pm: the EuroLeague game against Maccabi Tel Aviv in Serbia on neutral ground.