By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Defending French champions Monaco took the first of three necessary steps on the road to another domestic final.
Sasa Obradovic‘s side defeated JL Bourg 85-72 in Game 1 of the Betclic Elite semifinal series, with Elie Okobo leading the way.
The Frenchman finished the game with 20 points and six assists, on 5/6 shooting from the field and 8/9 from the free throw line.
Matthew Strazel followed with 14 points, while Jaron Blossomgame and Alpha Diallo added 12 points each. Mike James didn’t play, and Obradovic used only nine players.
On the other side, highly rated NBA draft prospect Zaccharie Risacher had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, while Maksim Salash also scored 12 points for the 2023/24 BKT EuroCup finalists.
Paris dominates ASVEL
While Monaco cruised past JL Bourg, the other French EuroLeague team suffered on the road in the capital. Paris dominated LDLC ASVEL 94-81 to take the lead.
Collin Malcolm led the 2023/24 BKT EuroCup winners with 18 points, while Betclic Elite MVP T.J. Shorts added 14 points.
Medhy Ngouama followed with 13 points, Nadir Hifi with 12, and Mikael Jantunen contributed 11 points.
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot stood out for the Villeurbanne team with 22 points, while Joffrey Lauvergne recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Betclic Elite semifinals (best-of-five)
Monaco – JL Bourg 1-0 (85-72)
Paris – ASVEL 1-0 (94-81)