The Roca Team saw their three-game EuroLeague winning streak come to an end on the evening of Friday, March 27, falling 107-97 away to Panathinaikos BC in a high-intensity clash in Athens.

Deprived of key figures Mike James and Daniel Theis, Monaco were always facing an uphill battle against one of the competition’s most complete rosters. A punishing second quarter ultimately proved decisive, as the hosts built a gap the Roca Boys could not fully recover from, despite a spirited second-half response.

There was, however, one standout performer in red and white. Elie Okobo delivered another exceptional display, finishing with 24 points — including an outstanding 5-of-6 from beyond the arc — along with 13 assists and a 35 efficiency rating. It was a performance that kept Monaco within touching distance for much of the night, but ultimately not enough to overturn the deficit.

The game itself began at a frantic pace, with both sides trading blows early on. Monaco briefly edged ahead at the end of the first quarter, but momentum swung sharply in the second. Panathinaikos found their rhythm from long range and dominated the boards, capitalising on Monaco’s shortened rotation to take control.

A 37-point second quarter from the Greek side opened up a 17-point halftime lead, leaving Monaco with a mountain to climb.

To their credit, the Roca Boys responded after the break with greater defensive intensity and improved ball movement. Okobo led the charge, supported by contributions across the floor as Monaco gradually chipped away at the deficit. At one stage, the gap was cut to just 10 points, raising hopes of an unlikely comeback.

But each Monaco push was met with an answer from the hosts, notably through a relentless offensive display that kept the Principality side at arm’s length. Despite fighting until the final minutes, Monaco were unable to fully close the gap.

The result sees Monaco slip to 10th place in the EuroLeague standings — the final play-in position — with the race tightening considerably. With several teams separated by just a single win, including those in the top six, the battle for playoff qualification remains wide open heading into the final stretch of the season.