The Roca Team’s EuroLeague dreams hit a bump in Barcelona on Wednesday night as the Roca Team fell 100-89 in Game 3 of the quarterfinals, allowing Barça to claw back to 2-1 in the best-of-five series.
Having stormed to victory in the opening two games at home, Monaco looked poised to book their ticket to the Final Four for the second time in club history. But despite a blistering start, the Principality’s squad unravelled in the second quarter, conceding a brutal 17-0 run and going over five minutes without scoring—a stretch that flipped the game on its head.
Mike James, as ever, led the charge with 20 points and 12 assists, backed by Elie Okobo (19 pts) and Alpha Diallo (16 pts, perfect 4/4 from beyond the arc). But Barcelona’s ball movement and physical dominance on the boards told the real story: 14 offensive rebounds, seven of them snatched by Willy Hernangomez, who dropped 19 points and bullied Monaco’s interior defence.
With sharpshooters Jabari Parker and Dario Brizuela adding 14 apiece, Monaco simply couldn’t close the gap, even after narrowing the deficit to five in the closing minutes. The momentum now shifts to Friday’s Game 4 at the Palau Blaugrana. Win, and Monaco punches its Final Four ticket. Lose, and it’s back to the Principality for a nervy Game 5 decider.
