By Eurohoops team / info@Eurohoops.net
AS Monaco beat ASVEL 90 – 70 to win the French Federation Cup for the first time in the history of the club in its return to the Final after 1983. This is the fourth title for Monaco on a top-division domestic level after claiming the French League’s Leaders Cup in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
Elie Okobo led Monaco overall with a rich output of 20 points, seven assists and six rebounds, while Mike James also scored 20 points and dished out six dimes. Donatas Motiejunas pitched in 17 points in a dominant performance overall by the Monegasque side despite the absences of key contributors Jordan Loyd and Chima Moneke.
Nando De Colo had 12 points plus five assists and David Lighty scored 10 for ASVEL. Their team was overwhelmed 33-15 in the first period and never managed to recover enough to become dangerous for Monaco in the remainder of the game.
After closing halftime up 49 – 32, Monaco proceeded to establish an advantage beyond the 20-point mark in the third quarter and even led by 25, 69 – 46. ASVEL reacted a bit to cut that margin o 76 – 64 with 6:25 to play but their opponents responded with an 8-0 run to prevent any possibility of a comeback.
Monaco is facing Maccabi Tel Aviv at home Tuesday (25/4) in the opener of the EuroLeague playoffs.
Photo: EuroLeague Basketball