The Roca Team has refused to bow out quietly. With their French championship hopes hanging by a thread, Monaco delivered a performance brimming with determination, heart, and sheer defiance to keep their title dreams alive. Their 80-74 victory over Paris Basketball at the Salle Gaston Médecin on Sunday not only levelled the series at 2-2 but also set the stage for a decisive Game 5 in Paris.
It was a clash worthy of a grand final — raw intensity, brutal physicality, and moments of brilliance on both sides. Leading the charge for Monaco was Elie Okobo, whose commanding 19 points, seven rebounds, and three assists earned him the MVP honours. His partner in crime, Matthew Strazel, turned up the heat in the second half with two audacious three-pointers and a 20-point haul that reignited the home crowd and swung momentum back to the principality.
From the opening tip-off, Monaco showed they meant business. Terry Tarpey, everywhere at once, set the tone with defensive ferocity and a quick-fire three-pointer. Alpha Diallo and Okobo followed, sending the home fans into raptures as Monaco stormed to an 8-0 lead. But Paris, to their credit, clawed back into the contest, exploiting lapses from ASM and edging ahead briefly as TJ Shorts dictated the tempo.
Tensions flared in the second quarter with both benches on their feet and tempers threatening to boil over. A heated clash between Diallo and Shorts epitomised the fiery atmosphere, as fouls and technical calls rained down. Despite Monaco’s best efforts, Paris took a narrow three-point advantage into the break, leaving the game delicately poised.
The third quarter saw Monaco dig deep. With their backs to the wall, Okobo and Strazel steadied the ship while Jordan Loyd added crucial points. ASM’s defence tightened, stifling the Parisian offence and frustrating their rhythm. By the final buzzer of the third, the Roca Team trailed by just a point, setting up a dramatic finale.
And it was in those final ten minutes that Monaco’s resolve shone through. Strazel, ice-cool under pressure, drained two clutch, off-balance jumpers to ignite the arena. The Roca Team took control, their defence suffocating Paris and forcing errors. Alpha Diallo sealed the win from the free-throw line, while Okobo, who fouled out in the dying moments, left the court having played a crucial role in Monaco’s resurgence.
With victory secured, the series is tied at two apiece, setting up a winner-takes-all clash on Tuesday night at the Adidas Arena. Just one game now separates the Roca Team from a historic third consecutive French title — and given Sunday’s heroics, you’d be foolish to count them out.
