In one of the most jaw-dropping finishes of the Betclic Elite playoffs, The Roca Team overturned a 15-point deficit in the final quarter to defeat Asvel 91–86 and punch their ticket to the championship final. With just eight minutes remaining and the scoreboard reading 71–86, it looked certain the series was heading for a decisive Game 5 in Décines. But Monaco had other plans—closing out the game with a 20–0 run that left Asvel dazed and dumped out.
Elie Okobo (26 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists) and Matthew Strazel (18 points, 10 assists), both ex-Villeurbanne talents, had kept Asvel in the driving seat for nearly the entire contest. But their efforts were undone in a chaotic final stretch, as Villeurbanne collapsed under pressure and allowed Monaco to complete one of the great playoff turnarounds.
“We just stayed locked in,” said a visibly relieved Okobo post-game. “It was intense, but we wanted to finish it at home. No one wanted to go back to Lyon.”
The win sees Monaco advance to their fourth consecutive final, where they’ll meet Paris Basketball in a repeat of the 2024 clash—won 3–1 by the Principality side. This time, however, Paris will have home-court advantage. Meanwhile, it’s heartbreak once again for Asvel, who bow out at the semi-final stage for a third straight year and close another campaign without silverware.
