The home team’s backcourt duo pulled all the strings in a flawless offensive performance
Mike James and Elie Okobo shined as Monaco vanquished Virtus
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AS Monaco showcased its attacking potential in an emphatic 101-85 whitewash of Virtus Segafredo Bologna as pack leader Mike James and versatile guard Elie Okobo combined for 39 points, with the home side running riot in the second half after trailing 46-47 at the interval.
Monaco took perfect care of the ball as it dished out 16 assists and committed just 2 turnovers, having also managed 7 steals on the back of strong second-half defense which had Virtus reeling. The hosts also shot the lights out from deep, hitting 12 of 24, while confining Virtus to 7 of 26 as the visitors also committed 10 turnovers.
James, who needed time to get into his stride after undergoing back surgery during the off-season, netted 19 points and Okobo poured 20 on 7-of-9 shooting from the floor, while the rest of the pack followed as six home players finished in double digits.
The livewire playmaker that he is, James was delighted with Monaco’s effort after a scathing 86-71 at FC Barcelona in the previous round, having pointed out that he was still working on returning to full fitness.
“It’s a process, obviously, and I am just trying to get back in shape and allow my body to catch up to where it was,” James said in a courtside interview. “It didn’t feel like us the last time round and we just wanted to get back to moving and sharing the ball. I felt we did that tonight, especially in the second half.”
Monaco head coach Sasa Obradovic was also pleased with his team bouncing back in style from a tepid display against Barca. “We need some time to click but it was a great response after the Barcelona defeat,” the Serbian tactician stated. “We played on a high level, especially in the second half, as the whole team did a good job with several players finishing in double digits.”
Okobo added: “We picked up defensively in the second half and didn’t give them as many second chances as we did in the first. Everybody is important on this team and we showed that tonight.”
Early days in the regular season do not make happy reading for Virtus, which slumped to its fourth successive defeat after collapsing in the second half, having had the upper hand in the first.
The Italian team’s head coach Luca Banchi acknowledged the performance left a lot to be desired. “It was very difficult for us to stop their guards as they used all their talent to their advantage,” he said. “We were pretty consistent in the first 20 minutes, but they punished every single mistake we made in the second half.”