One of the most anticipated weeks arrives for the fans of European basketball. The Euroleague looks for a new champion, and From May 23 to 25, ABU DABI Aren Continental, one of the great sporting events of the year. In Sport we continue to renew the reasons why each of the four classified can leave the United Arab Emirates with the title, and today is the turn of ending Monaco.
The Monegascos They got the ticket to the Final Four after defeating Barça in a tie that was decided in the last seconds of the fifth game. Monaco won both in the Principality (97-80 and 92-79), while Barça returned the favor at the Palau Blaugrana (100-89 and 79-72). Finally in the decisive match, Kevin Pinter failed the shot of the Barca victory and Monaco managed to qualify for Abu Dhabi with an 85 to 84 victory.
Thanks to this result, the team trained by Vassilis Spanoulis got into the Final Four for the first time in its history, in which it is its third season in Euroleague. Now, This Friday, May 23, they will face Olympiacos in the second semifinala party that will start at 20:00 Spanish time.
Frantic rhythm on both sides
If something characterizes this Monaco, it is the rhythm they try to give to his game. In attack, small players like Mike James, Jordan Lloyd o Matthew Strazel They are key to attack in a few seconds, run if the ball is recovered and the rival defense through boat, especially the first two.
Monaco has brilliant defenders, such as Alpha Diallo / EFE
On the other hand, in defense they are a team that puts many hands, that always plays to the limit and looking for the ribbon that the referees put in each game. The own Strazel, Jaron Blossomgame or Alpha Diallo, the third best defender of the season In Euroleague, they are struts to force losses and frustrate rivals, something that Barça lived in his own flesh.
This on the outside, while inside the Monaco has found a good way to balance its template. The German Daniel Theis arrived in the figure of Mam Jaitehwhich became the pivot reference of the team thanks to its versatility on both sides of the track.
Spanoulis wants to reign on the benches
Without a doubt, Vassilis spanoulis is the coach with less experience on the benches of this Final Four. In the semifinals he will face Georgios Bartzokas, a coach who led Spanoulis to win a Euroleague as a player. Meanwhile, if I went to the final, they would be seen with the current champion, Ergin Ataman or with Sarunas Jasikevicius, who has not yet been able to raise any title but will participate in his fifth Final Four Four.
For his part, Spanoulis is in his first season as a coach in Euroleague, although he has experience in Final Four, since before arriving in Monaco He took the Greek peristeri to the semifinals of the Basketball Champions League the 23/24 course. There, he lost against a Tenerife that would end up being champion.
Vassilis Spanulis premieres in a Four End as a coach / EFE
But as much as the focus is now on the bench, it is impossible to forget the fame of “Kill Bill.” One of the best players in the history of Europe, Spanoulis has three Euroligas as a player, three titles in which it was MVP of the Final Four in each of them. A legend on the track that will seek to move your winning gene to the benches.
Surprise in the call
Another of the advantages that Monaco has is the depth of template it has. Without going any further, that luxury came perfect for the fifth game against Barça. Over there, Georgios Papagiannis, who had not entered any call in the other meetings, scored 17 points With just an error in the launch and was a very important piece to ensure the Monegasca classification.
In addition, also putting the focus on the room series, Nick Calathes was ruled out without getting much in detail about a physical problem, while Petr Cornelie or Donadas Motiejunas Contaban with a residual rol. All of them players capable of changing a game and, at any time, can be a Spanoulis alternative to surprise the rival.
