The Roca Team continued their fine form in the EuroLeague with a convincing 92–84 victory over Panathinaikos on the night of Friday, October 31, at the Salle Gaston-Médecin — just 48 hours after defeating Olympiakos in Greece.
The Roca Team, guided by coach Vassilis Spanoulis, delivered another disciplined and dynamic performance to notch their fifth win of the season, improving their record to 5–3. “We played a second consecutive good game,” said Spanoulis. “Our game plan tonight was completely different from the one against Olympiakos, and the team deserves credit for executing it perfectly.”
Monaco’s defensive intensity was evident from the start, as they managed to frustrate Panathinaikos star guard Kendrick Nunn — last season’s EuroLeague MVP — who needed over five minutes to score his first points. Despite finishing with 26 points, Nunn was unable to overcome Monaco’s collective effort. The home side’s balance was key: seven players scored at least nine points, with Élie Okobo leading the charge at 15.
Mike James also had a decisive impact, sparking Monaco’s momentum in the second quarter with a quick-fire eight points that put the hosts in control. Monaco led after every quarter and closed out the game comfortably, showing their growing cohesion and depth.
Panathinaikos coach Ergin Ataman admitted his team was second-best on the night. “We gave up too many points in the first quarter and missed too many free throws in the end,” he said. “They were simply better than us.”
Monaco’s fluid attack produced 25 assists — six more than the league average — reflecting their unselfish approach. Spanoulis praised his side’s teamwork but urged caution: “We were very good on defence and shared the ball well. I’m happy with where we are, but we still need to stay humble and improve our concentration.”
With tempers briefly flaring between Okobo and Panathinaikos captain Kostas Sloukas in the dying moments, the victory was never in doubt. Monaco will now face a demanding stretch of three away games in Belgrade — against Maccabi Tel Aviv (playing there due to security concerns), Partizan, and Red Star — as they look to build on their growing momentum.
