Elie Okobo, Monaco’s top scorer during the game. Norbert Scanella / PANORAMIC
Monaco largely won against Boulogne-Levallois on the 27th day of the Elite.
Monaco took home Sunday against Boulogne-Levallois and Victor Wembanyama the shock of the Betclic Elite basketball (87-68), high-flying in the first period but without suspense in the end, to take a big step towards the first place of the regular season after the 27th day.
Seven days before the end, the “Roca Team”, beaten during the previous day in Limoges (83-76), has three successes ahead of the Metropolitans 92, its runner-up. What to see coming to benefit from the advantage of the field until the final, and to manage the spring, where it is qualified for the quarter-finals of the Euroleague, from mid-April. With the aim of participating in the Final Four (May 19-21).
Top 4 guaranteed for ASM
In her Gaston-Médecin room full as an egg, a rarity in the league, she continued the European momentum of her victory on Friday against Bayern Munich (84-81), which assured her of finishing in the top 4 and to have home advantage in the quarter-finals. Spectators witnessed a spectacular first period, where ASM had to work against the “Mets”, authors of a cannon start (18-7 in the middle of the first quarter) in the wake of their leader Porto – Rican Tremont Waters (31 pts, 5 assists in the end).
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The public was also able to admire some spectacular actions, such as two chained “tap-dunks” on either side of the floor at the start of the second quarter: the first by Victor Wembanyama, who took his own 3-point shot bouncing on the circle, before being imitated in stride by Yoan Makoundou. But apart from this action, Wembanyama, prodigy promised in first place during the NBA draft in June, was rather discreet in attack, well muzzled (8 pts, 14 rebounds, 3 blocks).
Okobo wants the spotlight at Wembanyama
In front of the coach of the Blues Vincent Collet, coach of the Mets, “Wemby” and his 2.21 m left the star to two Frenchmen from ASM, the leader-back Elie Okobo (21 pts, 4 assists) and the leader Matthew Strazel (16 pts). It was thus Strazel who, at the age of 20, caught fire at long distance in the first period, returning his first four winning shots (4/7 in the end) to allow his team to pick up. He thus confirms the new dimension he has taken on in recent weeks, due in particular to the suspension of Mike James in mid-March for “violation of internal rules».
The American star, reinstated last weekend and brilliant Friday in the Euroleague (28 pts), was very altruistic (7 assists) to compensate for his lack of skill (5 points including 1/5 to 2 pts and 0 /6 to 3 pts). And in general, the “Roca Team” confirmed that they had the margin, accelerating at the start of the second period (62-54 at the end of the third quarter) before managing against the Mets who did not not possess its depth of manpower.