The Roca Team are through to the semi-finals of the Leaders Cup — but only just. In a dramatic quarter-final at the Futuroscope Arena in Poitiers on Friday, February 20, Monaco edged past SIG Strasbourg 90-89 after a frantic final minute that had fans holding their breath.
Fresh off a French Cup win earlier in the week, Monaco arrived confident but quickly found themselves on the back foot. Strasbourg came out firing, knocking down three-pointers at will and racing into an early double-digit lead. Monaco struggled to find rhythm offensively, and after five minutes they were chasing the game. The turning point came in the second quarter.
With Elie Okobo orchestrating the offence and Matthew Strazel injecting pace and precision, Monaco flipped the script in spectacular fashion. Defensive intensity increased, shots began to fall, and Nikola Mirotic delivered a clinical stretch of scoring from mid-range and beyond the arc. What had been a sizeable deficit was suddenly a commanding lead. By halftime, the Roca Team had built a cushion and seized control of the momentum.
After the break, Monaco maintained their advantage through disciplined play and physical presence inside. Daniel Theis dominated the paint, while Mike James and Mirotic combined effectively to keep Strasbourg at arm’s length. Heading into the final quarter, the Principality side appeared in control with a 12-point lead. But Strasbourg were far from finished.
As Monaco’s offensive flow stalled and missed opportunities crept in, SIG clawed their way back into contention. Gabe Brown and Marcus Keene spearheaded the comeback, hitting crucial shots and drawing fouls. With just minutes remaining, Strasbourg had retaken the lead, turning what looked like a comfortable win into a nerve-shredding finale.
In the decisive moments, experience made the difference. Mirotic responded with a vital basket, and Monaco regained a slender advantage. Strasbourg had one last chance, but a missed lay-up under pressure allowed Monaco to close out the game from the free-throw line.
The final whistle confirmed a 90-89 victory — the narrowest of margins, but enough to send Monaco into Saturday’s semi-final against Cholet.
After the game, Elie Okobo acknowledged the team’s dip in concentration late on but emphasised the importance of progressing in a competition Monaco are determined to win this season.
It may not have been flawless, but the Roca Team live to fight another day — and in knockout basketball, that’s all that matters.