Back on home soil, the Roca Team return to the Salle Gaston Médecin on the afternoon of Sunday, November 9, to host Saint-Quentin in Betclic Elite action. After a gruelling yet rewarding stretch in the Euroleague, Vassilis Spanoulis’ men will be looking to maintain momentum — and confidence — before jetting off to Serbia for a fierce double-header against Partizan and Red Star Belgrade.
The Roca Team enter the matchup riding a wave of success. With six Euroleague wins from nine games and three straight triumphs — including a statement overtime victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv — Monaco have climbed into the top five in Europe. Mike James, who dropped a sensational 34 points and earned a 37 efficiency rating in Belgrade, has once again cemented his place among the Euroleague’s elite. But today’s focus shifts back to domestic competition, where Monaco aim to secure another win in front of their fans and keep pace at the top of the Betclic Elite table.
Their opponents, Saint-Quentin, arrive in the Principality in poor form. Having lost five of their first six games, the team is struggling to rediscover the cohesion that powered their rise to France’s top flight. After the departure of long-time coach Julien Mahé — now leading Nanterre and the Belgian national team — new boss Philippe Da Silva has inherited a squad still searching for rhythm and identity. Their last outing, a 65–89 home defeat to Nanterre, underlined their current challenges.
History, however, warns Monaco not to underestimate them. The Picardy side famously stunned the Roca Team in their first-ever top-flight meeting and have since proven capable of pushing the Monegasques to the wire. Two years ago, Mike James’ buzzer-beater saved Monaco at home — only for Saint-Quentin to exact revenge later that season with a last-second tip-in.
With the likes of James, Okobo, Mirotic, and Theis all available, Monaco are expected to rotate lightly, ensuring sharpness before their Serbian showdown. For Saint-Quentin, captain Boris Dallo will be key in trying to steady the ship and inspire a much-needed response.
