This season's precedents: AS Monaco vs. Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul
The Monaco-Fenerbahce series, which begins on Wednesday, had two overtures during the EuroLeague Regular Season. Here's what happened.
PLAYOFFS C
24 April 2024, 17:00
Playoffs
24 April 2024, 17:00
Playoffs
AS Monaco
ASM
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul
FBB
Excitement is guaranteed in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs, but that may be particularly true in the best-of-five series between AS Monaco (23-11, third seed) and Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (20-14, sixth seed). These two teams have tended to hold serve on their home courts in their relatively short all-time series. Fenerbahce has the only road win between them – a 93-96 shootout triumph at Salle Gaston Medecin on November 22, 2022 – and therefore holds a 4-2 record over Monaco.
Fenerbahce would have to repeat that feat at least once to survive this series, as Monaco holds home-court advantage, including in a potential Game 5 would take place on Monaco's home floor.
Here's how did they fare against each other earlier this season.
Fenerbahce aced Saras’s debut
Head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius's first game in the Fenerbahce hot seat came against Monaco in Round 14. Despite an inspired performance by Monaco guard Mike James, who finished with 24 points, Fenerbahce put the clamps on the visitors in the third quarter to take control of the contest en route to an 86-74 victory. The star for the Turkish side that night was Nigel Hayes-Davis, who netted 23 points, including 8 in a 22-12 third quarter. That result improved Fenerbahce to a perfect 6-0 record at home, with the team having gone 5-0 at Ulker Sports and Events Hall under ex-boss Dimitris Itoudis through its first five home games.
James rallied Monaco late
When they met again a month and a half later in the principality for Round 25, Monaco exacted some revenge by coming away with an 76-69 win. Fenerbahce led at the end of the first three quarters, but a 21-8 fourth quarter – in which James netted 10 points – allowed Monaco to emerge as the victor. James once again starred for the Monegasques, posting 23 points, while Elie Okobo added 16, John Brown 15 and Donatas Motiejunas 11. Fenerbahce had four double-digit scorers led by Sertac Sanli with 12.
