Roca Team fall at the death in Game 1 of the final in Paris
By Zak Jackson, MonacoViews Editorial
Playing with only eight men after Makoundou's late injury, the Roca Team led for much of Sunday's Pro B final before Paris Basket snatched it 95-91 in the closing seconds.
Paris Basket edged a dramatic Game 1 of the Pro B final on Sunday 14 June, winning 95-91 on home court after the Roca Team led for long stretches of the contest. The victory gives Paris a 1-0 series lead heading into Game 2.
Monaco were hampered throughout by an injury to Makoundou, who joined an already depleted squad on the sidelines and left the Roca Team operating with just eight available players. Despite that disadvantage, they fought their way into a lead that looked increasingly likely to hold until Paris found a way through in the dying seconds.
The defeat will sting given how close Monaco came to taking first-mover advantage in the series. The Roca Team now need to regroup quickly, with the squad's fitness situation the key question before the next game. For supporters, the performance will offer genuine encouragement even if the result does not.