The Roca Team ended 2025 on a high note with a commanding 94-75 victory over Efes Istanbul in EuroLeague action on Thursday, December 26. The dominant performance at home in the Principality served as a perfect rebound after a tough loss to Real Madrid the previous week and reaffirmed Monaco’s position as a force to be reckoned with in the competition.
The hosts set the tone early, jumping to a 15-4 lead within minutes and never looking back. By halftime, they had built a commanding 15-point advantage, which Efes Istanbul failed to challenge. The gap remained consistently in double digits throughout the second half, thanks to a combination of clinical shooting and stifling defence.
French forward Mam Jaiteh delivered an impeccable performance inside the paint, scoring 12 points with a perfect 6-for-6 shooting record. Young guard Matthew Strazel provided precision from beyond the arc, hitting three of his five three-point attempts. Leading scorers Mike James and Jordan Loyd, both American stars, added 14 points each, guiding the team without needing to push their limits.
Efes Istanbul, once a dominant force with back-to-back EuroLeague titles in 2021 and 2022, appeared far removed from their former glory. Despite entering the game on the back of three consecutive wins, bolstered by the return of star guard Shane Larkin, the Turkish side struggled to find their rhythm. Larkin was effectively neutralised by Monaco’s relentless defence, managing only seven points. French centre Vincent Poirier provided one of the few bright spots for Efes, contributing 10 points, but his efforts were insufficient to halt Monaco’s momentum.
Vassilis Spanoulis, Monaco’s head coach since late November, was full of praise for his team’s performance. “We played our strongest match,” the Greek coach remarked after the game. Reflecting on the holiday period, he added, “We had a Christmas party, but the players remained very professional and quickly refocused on the match.” The team celebrated the victory in style at a prominent Monegasque hotel, a fitting end to a successful year.
With this victory, Monaco maintains their second-place position in the EuroLeague standings with a 12-6 record. Their winning percentage remains neck-and-neck with Paris, who currently lead the standings at 11-5 and have a game in hand against Vitoria. As the EuroLeague season enters its second phase, Monaco’s consistency and depth of talent put them in an excellent position to challenge for the top spot and make a deep run in the competition. For now, the Monegasque faithful can celebrate a triumphant close to 2025.
