The Roca Team saw their home momentum halted on the evening of Thursday, February 26, falling 91–86 to Maccabi Tel Aviv at a packed Gaston Médecin in Round 29 of the EuroLeague. Despite multiple comeback attempts and an outstanding performance from Jaron Blossomgame, the Roca Team were left chasing the game after a costly opening quarter and ultimately fell short in the decisive moments.
Fresh off their Leaders Cup triumph and determined to strengthen their playoff position, Monaco entered the contest with confidence. However, that belief was quickly tested. A sluggish start, marked by turnovers, missed shots and defensive lapses, allowed Maccabi to seize control early. The Israeli side punished Monaco’s mistakes with clinical shooting and an 11–0 run that opened up a double-digit lead. By the end of the first quarter, the visitors were firmly in command.
Monaco responded in the second period through the energy of Alpha Diallo and Blossomgame, who sparked a rally that briefly narrowed the gap. Yet every surge was met with a composed answer from Maccabi, whose dominance on the boards and timely perimeter shooting kept the Principality side at arm’s length heading into halftime.
The third quarter saw Monaco raise their intensity. Blossomgame, in particular, was relentless on both ends of the floor, finishing with 25 points, seven rebounds and a 33 efficiency rating. The hosts edged closer, trimming the deficit to just a few points and reigniting belief inside the arena. But while Monaco showed resilience, they struggled to sustain control.
Early in the final quarter, the Roca Team finally broke through, taking a brief lead after a burst led by Blossomgame and Elie Okobo. The momentum shift electrified the crowd, yet it proved fleeting. Maccabi responded with poise, capitalising on Monaco’s foul trouble and regaining the advantage with key baskets down the stretch. A late push from the hosts was undermined by inconsistent shooting and disrupted rhythm, sealing an 86–91 defeat.
Head coach Vassilis Spanoulis acknowledged the team’s difficult start and lack of energy following a demanding schedule, pointing to a disappointing first half as the turning point. His counterpart Oded Kattash praised his side’s aggression and composure in critical phases of the game.
With the regular season entering its final stretch, Monaco remain firmly in the playoff race but will need a swift response to keep their ambitions of a top-four finish alive.