By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Two years in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, AS Monaco made it to the 2023 Final Four, after previously reaching the Playoffs of the 2021-22 campaign. Moving forward, a different head coach is likely to emerge for the next step in the upward trend of recent years.
Following the conclusion of the 2022-23 edition of France’s Betclic Elite LNB Pro A and one year after signing a three-year contract extension, Sasa Obradovic will part ways with La Roca Team, as Greek newspaper “Live Sports” first reported.
According to Eurohoops sources, while this is a likely scenario nothing is set in stone yet.
Topping the list of suitable replacements to succeed the Serbian tactician, Xavi Pascual becoming a Principality of Monaco resident would confirm his return to EuroLeague. The 50-year-old play-caller is also being considered by Anadolu Efes to take over from Ergin Ataman, as previously reported by Eurohoops and noting the opt-out clause on his contract with Zenit. And even a return to Barcelona can’t be excluded.
With Pablo Laso set for head-coaching duties at FC Bayern Munich, the services of Andrea Trinchieri will be available for other teams, including Monaco.
Since ranking third in EuroLeague’s Final Four held in Kaunas, the focus switched to domestic action. After moving from the Quarterfinals to the Semifinals of the Playoffs in France’s top-flight division, the team coached by Obradovic is set to face JL Bourg in a best-of-five series with homecourt advantage for a spot in the best-of-five championship series. Metropolitans 92 and French prodigy Victor Wembanyama versus LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne shape the other matchup of the Semifinals.