The Roca Team’s dream of reclaiming the Betclic Elite crown slipped agonisingly through their fingers on the night of Tuesday, June 24, as Monaco fell 99-93 to Paris Basketball in a pulsating Game 5 of the finals.
After a season of grit, brilliance, and determination, Sasa Obradović’s men looked poised to bring the trophy back to the Principality, leading at the start of the final quarter. But in a cruel twist, the Parisians, driven by the in-form TJ Shorts, staged a late surge that denied Monaco a second consecutive title.
Monaco’s fightback after a slow first half showed the heart of champions. Terry Tarpey shone brightest, sparking the Roca Team’s comeback with relentless energy on both ends of the floor. By the end of the third quarter, Monaco had overturned the deficit, silencing the Paris crowd and setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
But as is so often the case in basketball, the final minutes were decisive. TJ Shorts, a thorn in Monaco’s side all series, delivered when it mattered most, racking up 27 points and leading Paris to their first-ever French championship.
For Monaco, the sting of defeat will linger — but the Roca Team have once again shown they belong at the summit of French basketball. And with their talent and fighting spirit, few would bet against them being back in the finals spotlight next season.
