The Roca Team delivered a commanding performance to defeat Fenerbahçe 69-99 on their home court at the Ülker Sports Arena. Despite playing in a traditionally hostile environment and missing key player Alpha Diallo, who is sidelined for several weeks, Monaco completely outclassed their opponents.
The team showcased remarkable focus and control, particularly in the second half. Their defence stifled Fenerbahçe, while guards Mike James (21 points, his best tally of the season) and Elie Okobo (17 points, 5 assists) dismantled the Turkish side’s defence. Donatas Motiejunas, with 11 rebounds, also stood out, alongside Terry Tarpey, who delivered his best performance since joining Monaco, despite a history of limited playing time and injuries under coach Sasa Obradovic.
In a bold move, coach Vassilis Spanoulis placed Terry Tarpey in the starting lineup, and the French international exceeded expectations. His performance evoked memories of his stellar display during EuroBasket 2022. Additionally, Mam Jaiteh and Juhann Begarin made appearances as early as the first half, marking a shift in Monaco’s rotation strategy. While Fenerbahçe relied heavily on Nigel Hayes-Davis, who scored 13 points and posted an 18 efficiency rating in the first half, Monaco distributed responsibilities effectively. Motiejunas led the rebounding effort, grabbing seven boards by halftime. The Roca Team began to pull away late in the second quarter, extending the lead to 43-38 despite a buzzer-beating three-pointer from Wade Baldwin.
Monaco solidified their dominance in the third quarter, even after Jaron Blossomgame picked up his third foul early. With contributions from Georgios Papagiannis and Vitto Brown, the lead ballooned to 17 points (46-63). Elie Okobo’s free throws and a three-pointer at the buzzer extended the advantage to 72-54 by the end of the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Monaco’s efficient execution and sharpshooting sealed the deal. Shooting 61 percent from two-point range, 47.1 percent from three, and 21/24 from the free-throw line, Monaco left Fenerbahçe scrambling. The final margin of +30 is massive, not only as a statement victory but also for potential implications in the standings later in the season.
The Roca Team now sits in second place in the EuroLeague standings, awaiting further developments as ASVEL faces Paris in another crucial matchup on the evening of Friday, December 13.
