By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After finishing the 2023-24 Regular Season of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague in third place, AS Monaco got sixth-seeded Fenerbahce Beko in the Playoffs. A challenge attached to the opportunity to progress to the Final Four for a second consecutive campaign.
“For Fener, reaching the Final Four has been the goal since the start of the season, considering the squad, investments, and club history. On our part, we secured a great placement in the Regular Season, but everyone wants the next step and qualify for the Final Four. We achieved that last season. A second year in a row would be incredible,” mentioned head coach Sasa Obradovic.
The all-time leading scorer of the EuroLeague, Mike James is expected to be the focus of defensive plans for the team coached by Sarunas Jasikevicius. “They will certainly want to stop Mike, but that is not an easy task. Each of us must be ready to make our contribution,” noted Jaron Blossomgame.
Tipping off the best-of-five series, Game 1 will be played in Salle Gaston Medecin on Wednesday. Game 2 in the same venue follows on Friday.
“I have a feeling it will be a good series,” predicted Alpha Diallo, “We have our home crowd behind us, the homecourt advantage, so we must use it.”
“We have been looking forward to this moment,” added former NBA champion Jordan Loyd.
Besides Terry Tarpey (left knee surgery) stuck to the injury list, all remaining players of the La Roca Team are available.