After stumbling out of the gate in their Euroleague opener, the Roca Team made an emphatic statement on the night of Friday, October 3, crushing Dubai Basketball 103–81 at the Salle Gaston Médecin.
Just 48 hours after their disappointing loss to Zalgiris Kaunas, the Roca Team responded in style, producing a thrilling display of offensive power and defensive intensity to claim their first European victory of the season.
Leading the charge was Nikola Mirotic in full MVP mode — the Spanish-Montenegrin star posting 19 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and a staggering 32 efficiency rating. With Mike James pulling the strings and Alpha Diallo everywhere at once, Monaco were simply unplayable in the second half.
Dubai, who entered the competition as newcomers but with ambition after a strong debut win over Partizan, briefly kept pace in the first two quarters. Kabengele and Wright showed flashes of danger, but the floodgates opened after halftime.
Monaco, under the direction of coach Vassilis Spanoulis, unleashed a third-quarter onslaught — a 17–0 run that completely blew the visitors away. The Roca Boys mixed ruthless defence with clinical shooting, turning a tight contest into a demolition.
By the final buzzer, Monaco’s depth and cohesion had told the story. Every player contributed, every attack had intent, and the message was clear: this team means business in Europe.
“We wanted to show our real face tonight,” Spanoulis said after the game. “The team reacted with pride and energy. This is the Monaco we expect to see.”
With confidence restored and the home crowd roaring approval, the Roca Team now shift their focus back to the Betclic Élite, where they’ll host Chalon/Saône on Sunday, October 5. If Friday night’s performance is any indication, the ship has been well and truly righted.
