AS Monaco has qualified for the French Basketball Cup final after a compelling victory over Nanterre. The Roca Team, led by assistant coach Sergiy Gladyr in the absence of head coach Vassilis Spanoulis, showcased remarkable resilience despite a reduced roster of only nine professional players, missing key figures like Nikola Mirotic and Daniel Theis. The team from the Principality quickly established control, building an early lead and maintaining their advantage throughout the first half. Nanterre’s Croatian pivot, Roko Prkacin, contributed 12 points and 4 rebounds, but couldn’t prevent Monaco from holding leads like 7-13, 17-22, 19-27, 22-32, 31-34, and 39-45.
Monaco accelerated their performance at the start of the second half, launching an impressive 8-0 run that extended their lead to 42-61 by the 24th minute. This surge was significantly aided by Alpha Diallo and Nemanja Nedovic, who collectively shot 6/8 from beyond the arc. Nanterre, however, mounted a spirited comeback, with Mitchell Puttkammer Saxen leading the charge with 14 points and 9 rebounds. They managed to narrow Monaco’s comfortable lead to just five points (66-72, 74-80, 79-84). Despite the pressure, the Roca Team held firm, preserving their lead until the final buzzer. Six Monaco players finished with double-digit points, and Alpha Diallo stood out with an evaluation rating of 18.
The highly anticipated final is scheduled for Saturday, April 25, at the Accor Arena in Paris-Bercy. AS Monaco will compete for its second French Cup title, having previously won in 2023, against Le Mans, a formidable opponent with four past victories in the competition (1964, 2004, 2009, 2016). Having already clinched the Leaders Cup, Monaco now has a golden opportunity to achieve a historic treble this season. It should be noted that the live broadcast of this semi-final match was unfortunately affected by technical issues.
Full Schedule of the French Cup Finals:
Friday, April 24, 2026
- 6:00 PM – Women’s Trophy Final
- 8:30 PM – Men’s Trophy Final
Saturday, April 25, 2026
- 10:00 AM – U18 Women’s Final
- 12:45 PM – U18 Men’s Final
- 3:30 PM – Professional Women’s Final (Joé Jaunay Trophy): Basket Landes vs. Villeneuve d’Ascq
- 6:30 PM – Professional Men’s Final (Robert Busnel Trophy): Le Mans vs. Monaco
