By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Seeking the first LNB Pro A championship in team history, AS Monaco made short work of Metropolitans 92 Saturday.
Labeled as the favorite to win France’s Betclic Elite Playoffs, the team coached by Sasa Obradovic produced a dominating performance for the 87-64 victory against Victor Wembanyama’s Metropolitans 92 in Game 1 of the best-of-five championship series.
Wembanyama, 19, was held to eight points, seven rebounds, two blocks, and two assists lasting 26 minutes in Salle Gaston Medecin. Leading the league with 17.7 points and 10.1 rebounds per Playoffs game up to the Finals debut, playing time was limited after the break with the Mets resting him ahead of Game 2 since the lead ballooned over 30 points in the first half.
Promising forward, a potential second-round pick in the 2023 NBA draft, Armel Traore tallied a game-high 15 points in the losing effort for the team coached by Vincent Collet.
For La Roca Team, Alpha Diallo recorded a team-high 14 points and Mike James added 12 points. Chima Moneke and Donta Hall were the players sitting out due to squad restrictions regarding foreign players.
Roland Garros to host Game 3 and potentially Game 4
Game 2, keeping the series at Monaco’s home, follows Monday. Switching to Mets hosting in Stade Roland Garros, Game 3 is scheduled for Thursday, 15 June, and Game 4, if necessary, would be on Saturday, 17 June. If the series knotted at 2-2, deciding Game 5 will take place in Salle Gaston Medecin, Thursday, 20 June, two days before the draft.
Wembanyama, 19, is expected to be selected by the San Antonio Spurs with the first overall pick. Early plans are already in place for his potential participation in the NBA Summer League, either in Sacramento or Las Vegas in early July. The packed offseason will later send the French prodigy to represent his country in the FIBA World Cup in Asia.
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