89-84: Valencia stop Mike James

Valencia Basket contained Euroleague top scorer Mike James with an excellent defense this Friday, knocking down AS Monaco led by Chris James and Jared Harper, Xavi Lopez Arrostegui and James Webb. Scored points from both IIIs. In the second part we add the fourth victory of the course.

Valencia got off to a very deep start, with Jones scoring easily (he added 13 points without a mistake in five and a half minutes) and Jonah Radebeau cornering Mike James. Sasa Obradovic called for a timeout, but former Valencia Jordan Lloyd held up the visitors with an almost consecutive eight points (17-12, m.6). It was enough to even collide.

Both teams made mistakes for several minutes to give the away side the lead for the first time, but Jones’ return to add five goals in a row without making any mistakes gave Valencia the lead 13-2 (39). – 29, m. 17).

But Monaco did not shrink back, and cowardly scoring from Lloyd and James narrowed the clash once again.

The restart was mostly about equality, but Valencia’s static attack was even more problematic. Still, Bojan Dubrjavic’s solidity in the post, three excellent individual actions by the elusive Jared Harper and, most of all, an excellent defense against the deranged James provided a promising cushion for the locals. (64-54, m.30).

Harper’s fresh triple started the final quarter, but Lloyd didn’t let Valencia break the clash. Still, good work from Xavi Lopez Arostegui and Clerber, along with mastery of the rebound, allowed the locals to hold on to the lead when Harper lost his way.

Minutes passed, James managed to cut the deficit, the locals embroiled in questionable refereeing decisions, and Okobo drew the duel. But Valencia showed some tension but didn’t falter, Jones’ triple kept his cool and gave Monaco a nerve, and Loyd’s huge resistance wasn’t enough, his two from James Webb III. A triple ended the clash and put Valencia in a positive balance.

data sheet

Valencia Basket-AS Monaco 89-84

89.- Valencia Basket (20+21+23+): Jones (27), Radebo (2), Puerto (-), Webb III (15), Dubrijevic (6) 6), Preperic (5), Pradilla (-), Lopez Arostegui (12), Alexander (-).

84.- AS Monaco (20+20+14+): James (12), Lloyd (24), Ouattara (-), Braun III (5), Motierjunas (8) -5 starter- Okobo (12), Blossom Game (2), Couture (-), Diallo (14), Hall (7).

Referees: Pukur (ESL), Pastusiak (POL), Coriencic (MNO). They eliminated the local his López-Arostegui (m.36).

Incident: Match corresponding to Day 7 of the regular phase of the Endesa League at the Fuente de San Luis Pavilion in front of 5,251 spectators