The Roca Team suffered a difficult defeat in Sarajevo, falling to Dubai Basketball in a high scoring clash in the 35th round of the EuroLeague on the evening of Thursday, April 2. The Principality side ultimately went down 101–91 on neutral ground, leaving their playoff hopes under pressure with only three regular season games remaining.
Monaco entered the contest without key players Mike James and Daniel Theis, forcing coach Manuchar Markoishvili to rely on a starting five of Matthew Strazel, Nemanja Nedovic, Alpha Diallo, Jaron Blossomgame and Nikola Mirotic. Across the court, Dubai coach Jurica Golemac started Wright, Musa, Anderson, Petrusev and Kabengele.
Monaco began with intensity. Alpha Diallo attacked aggressively inside, Kevarrius Hayes controlled the rebounds and Nemanja Nedovic opened the scoring from long range to give the Roca Team an early lead. The game quickly settled into a fast paced exchange, with both teams trading baskets through the opening minutes.
Dubai began to find its rhythm late in the first quarter, driven by a strong performance from Musa on home soil in Bosnia. The guard delighted the crowd with three consecutive three pointers, including a buzzer beater that pushed Dubai ahead 24–18 after ten minutes.
The second quarter proved equally demanding for Monaco. Turnovers began to creep into their game while Dubai’s shooting from beyond the arc remained clinical. A quick run pushed the gap into double digits before Nikola Mirotic halted the momentum with a powerful and one. Monaco gradually fought back through Diallo, Hayes and Mirotic, slowly closing the gap.
Their efforts paid off just before halftime when Elie Okobo produced a spectacular buzzer beating basket to level the score at 47–47 and send both teams into the break tied.
After the restart, the contest remained wide open. Musa continued to lead Dubai’s offense while Monaco struggled to produce the defensive stops needed to take control. Hayes added important points inside while Blossomgame and Nedovic responded from distance, keeping the Roca Team within striking distance throughout the third quarter.
Monaco briefly closed the gap to a single possession thanks to a long range effort from Mirotic, but Dubai’s attack remained relentless. Wright and Kabengele combined to stretch the lead once again as the final quarter unfolded.
In the closing minutes Monaco lacked the defensive answers needed to halt Dubai’s momentum. Anderson found his shooting touch from beyond the arc while Wright capitalised on fast break opportunities, allowing Dubai to pull clear and secure the victory.
The defeat leaves the Roca Team in a delicate position as the regular season draws to a close. With three games remaining, all to be played at the Gaston Médecin arena in Monaco, the race for a playoff place remains wide open.
More than ever, the red and white faithful will be called upon to rally behind their team as Monaco prepares for a decisive home stretch in the EuroLeague season.