This Monday evening, during match 1 of the Betclic Elite semi-finals, Monaco largely dominated Bourg-en-Bresse (96-79) and therefore took a slight option on qualifying for the final.
In its lair, the Roca Team has assumed its favorite status with style. Indeed, at Gaston-Médecin, Monaco won this Monday evening against Bourg-en-Bresse (96-79), in the first match of the Betclic Elite semi-finals. If Dijon had fallen into the trap in the quarter-finals, the Principality club did not tremble and therefore ideally begins this series. A success that took shape after the first quarter, during which the two teams were equal (19-16).
It was then that the domination of the Monegasques was most visible. Because, before the break, the teammates of Donatas Motiejunas (leading scorer of the match with 20 points) struck a blow in this meeting by inflicting a cruel 29-16 on the players of Frédéric Fauthoux, who were therefore 16 units behind when they returned to the locker room. The hardest part was then done for the locals.
Expected reaction for JL Bourg
In the second half, on the strength of this good lead, Monaco then mainly managed and always left the Bressans less than ten lengths from them. Opposite, JL Bourg does not have to be ashamed of these last twenty minutes, during which they stood up to the leader of the regular season. For this, the visitors were able to count on the 19 points of the American James Palmer, who finished as his team’s top scorer.
Thanks among others to Alpha Diallo (14 points), Elie Okobo (13 points) or Mike James (12 points), the Roca Team did the job and won this first match without shaking. From now on Sasa Obradovic’s team, which is the subject of rumors concerning a possible departure at the end of the season, will try to get a little closer to the final at home, in match 2. For its part, Bourg-en -Bresse will have to react before returning to the Ekinox in a few days or risk seeing the Monegasques slip away.
From May 28 to June 8, 2023
MONACO (1) – BOURG-EN-BRESSE (5): 1-0
Match 1 – Monaco – Bourg-en-Bresse: 96-79
Match 2 : May 31 in Monaco
Match 3 : June 3 in Bourg-en-Bresse
Match 4 (if necessary): June 5 in Bourg-en-Bresse
Match 5 (if necessary): June 8 in Monaco