Monaco secures win against Saint-Quentin and clinches Betclic ELITE playoff spot
Against a tough Saint-Quentin team, AS Monaco showcased their collective strength this Saturday, April 12. After a controlled first half, Vassilis Spanoulis’s men contained the Picardy comeback to win 86-72. With this victory, the Roca Team officially qualified for the Betclic ELITE playoffs.
Monaco solid at home before European battles
Days after securing their top-4 spot in EuroLeague, AS Monaco returned to the championship aiming to maintain their momentum. Despite missing several key players (Begarin, Papagiannis, Theis, Blossomgame and Okobo), the Roca Team quickly imposed their rhythm against SQBB.
🔥 | L’@ASMonaco_Bask starts strong! Matthew Strazel leads the charge and Monaco builds a lead in the first quarter!
Follow the game live on DAZN 👉 https://t.co/JzlBZ1uftR#BetclicELITEpic.twitter.com/N3Vid66tgl
— DAZN France (@DAZN_FR)April 12, 2025
Led by a sharp Mike James who scored 17 points, Monaco took control from the first quarter (24-10). Outside shooting from Jordan Loyd (15 points) and Matthew Strazel (10 points) allowed ASM to build a substantial lead before halftime (49-32), despite a nice run from Jerome Robinson (19 points), Saint-Quentin’s only real offensive spark.
Effective collective and defensive management
After the break, Monaco maintained their momentum. Mam’ Jaiteh (9 points), Alpha Diallo (15 points) and Petr Cornelie (7 points) all contributed in a game with excellent ball movement (24 assists). Despite slowing down late in the game, with SQBB coming within 11 points, Vassilis Spanoulis’s men were never really threatened.
« We played a very good game, except for the last five minutes, » summarized the Greek coach. « It’s a good performance from my team for 35 minutes, especially defensively. »
Perfect week for the #RocaTeam! ✅
100% win rate and playoff qualification secured in both Euroleague and Championship! 🔥👏#DagheMunegupic.twitter.com/7DU7U7wHPA
— AS Monaco Basket 🇲🇨 (@ASMonaco_Basket)April 12, 2025
SQBB too soft despite good reaction
For Saint-Quentin, the lack of intensity in the first period proved costly. « In this kind of game, you need to be perfect. Tonight, we weren’t, » admitted Giovan Oniangue (17 points). Though they made a comeback thanks to improved outside shooting late in the game (Pfister, Oniangue), the Picardy team leaves without a win but with lessons learned for their playoff chase.
Their coach Julien Mahé didn’t mince words: « The final score doesn’t even reflect the game. I’m disappointed with our level of play. »
With this victory, AS Monaco continues to lead the Betclic ELITE standings, determined to pursue the national title while dreaming of a European Final Four.
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