2024-05-09 13:00:19
Everything was decided in the last seconds of overtime – the Turks took the lead 80-79 after Nick Calathes’ second three-pointer in a row, and “Monaco” in 10 seconds. failed to mount an attack and lost.
“Monaco” played in the final four in Kaunas last season, while “Euroleague Battles Heating Up: Anadolu Efes, Baskonia, and Panathinaikos Secure Wins”>Fenerbahce” has not played in the decisive Euroleague competition since 2019.
In the series up to three wins, this pair was tied 2:2, so everything had to be decided by the confrontation on the field of the “Monaco” team.
This duel was played for a very long time due to technical problems that repeated throughout the match: the timer did not work, the scoreboard turned off, and the referees had to count the rest of the time almost with a calculator.
From the start of the duel, the guests played much more aggressively and they led 6:3. However, the French team calmly chased the opponents and not only prevented the guests from going wild, but led 15:13 after the first quarter.
Interestingly, in 10 minutes of play, the teams did not make a single three-pointer – both made four shots and they were not accurate.
And the beginning of the second half belonged to the hosts, who ran away 20:13, and the guests had to make extra efforts to win in 3 minutes. would reduce the difference to 19:20.
However, Fenerbahce was unable to overturn the result, and Monaco kept running ahead by 3-5 points: with 3 minutes left in the half. the hosts led 34:29, and in the last minute after D.Motiejūnas’ free throws even 40:32.
The team went to rest with the hosts leading 40:35.
In the third quarter, the hosts escaped 43:35, but the score became 45:45 halfway through the quarter. The Istanbul team tried to break the flow of events, but Mike James started the game and helped the hosts to break away again 55:48.
But “Monaco” did not create an even bigger difference, and before the decisive quarter, the club even trailed 55:56.
6 minutes left to fight. the result was equal 60:60. Turks 4 minutes before. led 64:61 and “Monaco” sought to catch up with their opponents and they succeeded – 63:64.
However, Marko Guduričius once again put Fenerbahce ahead 67:63 with a three-pointer.
When there was 1 min left. In 40 seconds, M. James scored a three-pointer, Elie Okobo added a two-pointer, and Monaco already led 68:67.
40 seconds left the result was equal 70:70 and the hosts had the last attack, but they missed and the team played overtime.
Although “Monaco” led 73:70 after M.James’ three-pointer, the visitors took the lead 74:73 in the middle of overtime.
But everything turned upside down again – with 1 minute left. 20 sec. already Monaco was ahead 77-74, but Nick Calathes hit a long shot. It was his first three-pointer out of a possible eight.
Not to mention: N. Calathes scored the second three-pointer in a row and the Turks led 80:79. Monaco in 10 seconds. failed to create a miracle and throw in – lost the ball and only drew the ball of controversy.
Monaco: Mike James 20 (3/5 three-pointers), Donatas Motiejunas 16, Elie Okobo 15 (0/5 three-pointers, 5 assists), Alpha Diallo 10.
Fenerbahce: Scottie Wilbekin (4/8 3-pointers, 5 turnovers) and Nick Calathes (3/10 3-pointers, 6 rebounds) 14 each, Tarik Biberovic 13 (3/3 3-pointers, 5 rebounds), Marko Guduričius 10, Nathan Sestina 8.
In the first match of the quarter-finals, Shar’s team won 95:91, but in the second match, “Monaco” equalized the result 93:88.
When the series moved to Istanbul, the home team again took the lead after winning 89:78, but in the fourth match, success followed the French 65:62.
The winner of this pair, the Istanbul club, will face Panathinaikos of Athens in the semi-finals of the Euroleague Final Four in Berlin on May 24-26. This club also broke Maccabi Tel Aviv only after the fifth match of the series.
2024-05-09 13:00:19