**•	"Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse", official movie partner of the Final Four**

**•	Fans to enjoy multi-platform presence of Spider-Man** 

 

Euroleague Basketball and Sony Pictures have joined forces to celebrate the exciting upcoming release of the latest movie of your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, to be released in cinemas worldwide beginning on June 2.

"Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" will be the official movie partner of the Final Four, to be held at the magnificent Zalgirio Arena in Kaunas, Lithuania, from May 19 to 21. 

Sony Pictures and Euroleague Basketball have reached a multi-platform agreement that will target both the fans witnessing the Final Four games on-site and the millions who will follow the event from their homes. Special on-court activations with – the movie's main soundtrack theme and a special teaser trailer created for the event – will amuse the thousands of fans filling the already sold-out Zalgirio Arena.   

"Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" is the second part of the Spider-Man animation movies saga that introduced revolutionary animation concepts, mixing computer animation with traditional hand-drawn comic book techniques. The first part, "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse", was one of the biggest hits of 2018, grossing $384.3 million worldwide and winning the Best Animated Feature at the 91st Academy Awards.

Those watching at home will also have a chance to glimpse your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man on global television broadcasts during the Final Four with thematic TV graphics and a special appearance just before the Championship Game of a tailor-made apparition using revolutionary augmented reality technology. 

Lastly, special "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" content will be created for all Euroleague Basketball Social media platforms, allowing all fans to enjoy what will certainly be one of the top blockbusters for this summer.

Spider-Man comic-books and movies have popularized the famous adage stated by Uncle Ben: "With great power comes great responsibility." That concept is applicable to all four teams and their players during the Final Four. After proving to be the best teams of the season, one team's players will have the biggest responsibility of their careers – lifting the EuroLeague trophy!

Spiderman!

Spider-Man to swing across the EuroLeague-verse at Final Four

When AS Monaco first arrived in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague at the start of last season, few expected the 2020-21 7DAYS EuroCup champion to get to where it is now – among the top four teams in Europe. But, following Wednesday night's Game 5 triumph against Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in the 2023 EuroLeague Playoffs, Monaco can begin its preparations for its first-ever trip to the Final Four.

Ambitious Monaco takes itself and French basketball to new heights

When AS Monaco first arrived in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague at the start of last season, few expected the 2020-21 7DAYS EuroCup champion to get to where it is now – among the top four teams in Europe. But, following Wednesday night's Game 5 triumph against Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in the 2023 EuroLeague Playoffs, Monaco can begin its preparations for its first-ever trip to the Final Four.

 

Behind Monaco's project, ambition has been the key. Just eight years ago, in the 2014-15 season, Monaco won the French Second Division title and ended its long wait to return to the French top flight. In the last couple of years in particular, however, the club's rise has been meteoric.

<center>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Say cheeeeese if you’re going to Kaunas next week🔜<a href="https://twitter.com/ASMonaco_Basket?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ASMonaco_Basket</a> <a href="https://t.co/XCZzEz2mSY">pic.twitter.com/XCZzEz2mSY</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1656403232028086273?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 10, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

After becoming the first team from the French League to win the EuroCup in 2021, beating UNICS Kazan 87-89 and 83-86 in the best-of-three Finals, Monaco set its sights on its next target: the EuroLeague. The team didn't simply want to compete in Europe's premier club basketball competition. No, it wanted to make noise and shake up the establishment.

First came the signing of the 2019 Alphonso Ford Top Scorer Trophy winner, Mike James, just 13 days before the start of Monaco's debut season in the EuroLeague. James had spent the final part of the previous campaign playing alongside the likes of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden with the Brooklyn Nets, so it was some coup for Monaco. Yet, the 2021-22 season didn’t get off to the best of starts for the principality side.

Monaco began the season with Zvezdan Mitrovic on the bench, the coach who had led the team to EuroCup success in the previous season, but in December 2021, a decision was made to part ways with the Montenegrin. At that point, Monaco was 5-9 and had lost its last five games. In came Sasa Obradovic, who previously coached Monaco in the 2019-20 campaign, and the team never looked back. By the end of the regular season, with games against Russian teams having been wiped away due to the invasion of Ukraine, Monaco sat 15-13 and had wrapped up the No. 7 seed in the playoffs.

That set up a playoff matchup against Olympiacos Piraeus, the No. 2 seed. The Reds won convincingly in Game 1, 71-54, but 23 points from James, 19 from Danilo Andjusic and 17 from Dwayne Bacon saw Monaco steal Game 2, 72-96. Two tight games followed back in the principality, with Olympiacos winning 83-87 before Monaco forced a Game 5 with a 78-77 victory in Game 4 – a game that saw Durant appear at Salle Gason Medecin as one of Monaco's supporters. Durant also made the trip to Piraeus for Game 5, but Monaco came up short, losing 94-88.

Monaco rallied to the final minute to produce a remarkable comeback in Game 4 and force a final showdown decider. Olympiacos aim to heal the wounds from a frustrating evening and book their Final Four spot.

Olympiacos Piraeus v AS Monaco - Playoffs Game 5 - Highlights

Fast-forward one year and Monaco's emotions are completely different. Coach Obradovic's squad ended the season with the fourth-best record, 21-13, which meant that this time it would have home-court advantage in a hypothetical Game 5. And, once again, it all came down to a Game 5 contest. Monaco lost Game 1 to Maccabi, 67-79, but responded by winning Games 2 and 3, 86-74 and 78-83, respectively. In Game 4, it was the turn of Maccabi to force a Game 5, blowing out Monaco 104-69 in Tel Aviv. With everything on the line, though, Monaco came out on top in Game 5, downing Maccabi 97-86 to reach the Final Four.

Maccabi aim to seal a first Final Four appearance since 2014 with a decisive visit to Monaco, who are striving to reach European basketball's biggest event for the very first time. Who will be celebrating come the final buzzer and have their hopes of glory still intact?

AS Monaco vs Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv - Playoffs Game 5 - Highlights

Not only is Monaco's Final Four appearance a huge moment for the club, which has never reached these heights before, but it is also fantastic news for French basketball. In fact, the last French League team to make it to the Final Four was LCLC ASVEL Villeurbanne back in 1997, when it finished in fourth place after losing to FC Barcelona in the semifinals and Olimpija Ljubljana in the third-place game. Aside from ASVEL, the only other French League club to play in the Final Four is Limoges, which came third in 1990, was the 1993 champion and placed fourth in 1995.

Speaking after Monaco's Game 5 win against Maccabi, guard Jordan Loyd stated that he wants to see his side get more credit: "Nobody had this team in the Final Four at the start of the season, nobody had this team winning this series. I'm just happy that this club can get some respect, some much well-deserved respect."

 

Coach Obradovic, meanwhile, was keen to pour praise on his players and the club for this accomplishment. What's more, he highlighted how traditional powerhouses like Olympiacos and Maccabi, Monaco's opponents in the last two years, spend years trying to achieve what the principality side have been able to do in two years in the EuroLeague.

 

"This is a historic night for me, a historic night for Monaco, a historic night for most of the guys," said Obradovic during the post-game press conference. "\[We did\] an amazing job, like last year, by reaching the top eight; now we upgraded on that in just two years. Teams like Maccabi, like Olympiacos wait for this for a long time. French basketball, too, to be honest. What can I say? Two more games to play. Let's still keep dreaming."

<center>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🤩 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗝𝗢𝗬 🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/F4GLORY?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#F4GLORY</a> <a href="https://t.co/wxuzQ6Q4EV">pic.twitter.com/wxuzQ6Q4EV</a></p>&mdash; AS Monaco Basket 🇲🇨 (@ASMonaco_Basket) <a href="https://twitter.com/ASMonaco_Basket/status/1656414330928218115?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 10, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Just one player on the Monaco roster has made it to the Final Four before – James with Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz in 2016 – but Coach Obradovic's squad will head to Kaunas in under a week's time with the goal of shaking things up even more. A rematch with Olympiacos awaits in the semifinals before a potential championship game with Barca or Real Madrid, but for Monaco, this is all part of the experience. To be the best, you have to beat the best.

With France's last EuroLeague champion being Limoges in 1990, 33 years ago, Monaco has the chance to make even more history at the 2023 Final Four. But, for now, everyone will be following the advice of Coach Obradovic: "Let's still keep dreaming."

Game News

AS Monaco v Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (2023-05-10T18:00:00.000Z)

France-based live streaming and VOD platform SKWEEK has acquired the exclusive global rights to the 2023 Adidas Next Generation Tournament Finals to be held in Kaunas, Lithuania from May 18 to 21.  SKWEEK also holds the exclusive rights in France and Monaco to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and 7DAYS EuroCup.

All Adidas Next Generation Tournament Finals games to be broadcast worldwide exclusively on SKWEEK

### Fans can watch the top young European stars for free all weekend long

France-based live streaming and VOD platform SKWEEK has acquired the exclusive global rights to the 2023 Adidas Next Generation Tournament Finals to be held in Kaunas, Lithuania from May 18 to 21.  SKWEEK also holds the exclusive rights in France and Monaco to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and 7DAYS EuroCup.

Oleg Petrov, CEO FEDCOM MEDIA, said: "We are thrilled to offer the Adidas Next Generation Tournament to all basketball fans around the world and give them the opportunity to discover the rising stars of the future. With this new acquisition, we will extend our offering to a new global audience, delivering premium content and contributing to the growth of this exciting tournament."

All games at the ANGT Finals will be streamed live for free upon registration for the service. All games will have commentary in English and French. Exclusive behind-the-scenes and off-court content will also be available on SKWEEK's social media accounts during the whole tournament.

“We are thrilled to partner with SKWEEK to bring one of the most prestigious U18 tournaments globally to all fans worldwide," Alex Ferrer Kristjansson, Euroleague Basketball Marketing and Communication Senior Director, stated. "The Adidas Next Generation Tournament is where stars are born. The SKWEEK audience will be able to meet the next Micic, Wembanyama, Sabonis, Mirotic, Doncic or Jokic, as well as enjoy additional exclusive content on the players and the tournament."

The Adidas Next Generation Tournament annually brings together the top youth teams and players across Europe for a series of four qualifying tournaments, which culminate in the ANGT Finals, held in conjunction with the EuroLeague Final Four. For two decades, the event has been a who's who of future stars, with past participants going on to win countless titles and accolades on both sides of the Atlantic.

The names Vasilije Micic, Nikola Mirotic, Milos Teodosic, Luka Doncic, Kristaps Porzingis, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Nikola Jokic, Domantas Sabonis and Victor Wembanyama, the projected number one NBA draft pick this year, are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the long list of future stars who have graced the courts of previous ANGT tournaments.

This season's participants will be Real Madrid, Joventut Badalona and FC Barcelona from Spain; Mega MIS Belgrade and Crvena Zvezda Belgrade from Serbia; Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos Athens; Zalgiris Kaunas from Lithuania; and the Next Generation Select Team, which features players from specially selected Next Generation teams at the four qualifying events.

The 2023 Adidas Next Generation Tournament Finals will begin on Thursday, May 18 and feature a total of 13 games, all played at Kaunas Sports Hall. The championship game is set for 12:30 local time on Sunday, May 21.

ANGT Finals games to be broadcast worldwide exclusively on SKWEEK

Euroleague Basketball is pleased to announce two initiatives aimed at promoting sustainability, mobility, education and emissions impact awareness that will take place at the 2023 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in Kaunas, Lithuania, from May 18 to 21. The first program is a reforestation campaign and the second is the [Final Four Walking Challenge](https://ftpserver.euroleague.net/general/instructions.pdf), which will also allow locals and visitors to support the reforestation campaign.

As part of the reforestation campaign, Euroleague Basketball aims to plant 15,000 trees in Kaunas. To tip off the campaign, 10,000 trees were already planted by Euroleague Basketball and its partner, #walk15, in the Dubravos Forest last Saturday, May 6. Euroleague Basketball Legend Ramunas Siskauskas and Zalgiris Kaunas Legend Paulius Jankunas actively participated in the planting of the trees. It is estimated that 10,000 new trees will help absorb more than 100 tons of CO2 emitted into the environment each year, while the species of trees being planted will contribute to the needs of the local wildlife.

Final Four Walking Challenge!

The [Final Four Walking Challenge](https://ftpserver.euroleague.net/general/instructions.pdf), which runs throughout Final Four weekend, will ask participants to take at least 10,000 steps on each of the four days. Not only will the extra walking promote sustainable mobility, healthy habits, and emissions reductions, but it will be the source of more trees being planted to reach the goal of 15,000. In addition, participants can win prizes!

Euroleague Basketball will collaborate with the popular Lithuanian app #walk15 on both initiatives. To take part in the [Final Four Walking Challenge](https://ftpserver.euroleague.net/general/instructions.pdf), fans – whether Final Four ticket holders or not – should simply download the free #walk15 app through the [Apple Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/walk15/id1155907677) or [Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.walk15.pedometer&gl=ES). Once registered, they can join one of the Final Four teams – AS Monaco, FC Barcelona, Olympiacos Piraeus or Real Madrid – or the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague team.

The goal of the challenge is for participants, both as individuals and team members, to achieve the highest number of steps over those four days. The challenge will be open to everyone in the city of Kaunas and abroad. Registration opens on Thursday, May 11. 

To be eligible for the prizes, participants must walk at least 10,000 steps on each day of the challenge. Eligible participants will be included in a raffle for tickets to the 2024 EuroLeague Final Four in Berlin, Germany. There will be additional prizes for the top three walkers from each of the five teams. Euroleague Basketball and its partner, adidas, will also offer on-site prize opportunities for visiting specific locations, including the Adidas Next Generation Tournament at Kaunas Sports Hall and the FanZone at Unity Square, through dedicated routes. The app will also allow the participants to store their steps in a wallet to exchange them for a special Final Four discount of 15% on trains from Vilnius to Kaunas. [See all terms and conditions here](https://ftpserver.euroleague.net/general/TCFinalFourWalkingChallenge.pdf). 

This initiative is being supported by our friends and Final Four collaborators at #walk15, the Lithuanian Forestry Office, Lithuanian train company LTG Link, Kauno autobusai, Zalgiris Kaunas, adidas and the City of Kaunas.

Walking Challenge headlines 2023 Final Four sustainability initiatives

At the end of one of the greatest months of playoff series in the history of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, one of the competition's biggest stars – literally and figuratively – heads to the Final Four as the EuroLeague MVP for April/May. Walter Tavares put nearly all of his skills on display in leading Real Madrid back from a 0-2 deficit in its playoff series against Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, which contributed greatly to Euroleague basketball choosing Tavares as the MVP of the Month.

MVP for April/May: Walter Tavares, Real Madrid

At the end of one of the greatest months of playoff series in the history of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, one of the competition's biggest stars – literally and figuratively – heads to the Final Four as the EuroLeague MVP for April/May. [Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/) put nearly all of his skills on display in leading Real Madrid back from a 0-2 deficit in its playoff series against Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, which contributed greatly to Euroleague basketball choosing Tavares as the MVP of the Month.

After an injury made him leave Game 1 early and miss almost half of Game 2, Tavares returned with a vengeance by producing one of the greatest performances in playoff history as Los Blancos faced down elimination on the road in Game 3. He remained at the forefront of Real's game plan for the rest of the series. In Real's three playoff victories, Tavares averaged 17.7 points on 67.9% shooting, 8.3 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 1.3 steals for a PIR of 29.0.

Walter Tavares | April-May MVP | Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

The MVP of the Month award is now in its 18th season. The winner is named by Euroleague Basketball based on his and his team's performance during the month in question. The award for April and May award was based on the games played starting from Round 33 of the regular season through the end of the playoffs. This marks the third time Tavares has been honored as MVP of the Month. His first such award came in October 2018 and his second in November 2021. His three MVP of the Month trophies are tied for the third-most in competition history. Nikola Mirotic of FC Barcelona is the all-time leader with seven.

After a team-high-tying PIR of 17 in a Round 33 win over FC Bayern Munich, Tavares fouled out of Real's overtime loss to Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in the regular season finale that caused Real to slip from second to third place in the final standings. Once in the playoffs, however, the 2.20-meter tower of power dominated. He went for 10 points with just a single missed shot, 4 rebounds and 1 block for a PIR of 17 in the first half of the series opener against Partizan. He hurt his knee late in the second quarter and came back after halftime, but after putting back an offensive rebound early in the third quarter, Tavares left the game for good and Real lost the game on a last-second shot by Partizan's Kevin Punter.

Real also lost Game 2 and went to Belgrade for Game 3 with its back to the wall. Tavares returned and produced a performance for the ages. He erupted for 26 points on 11-for-14 shooting, 11 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks to lead Los Blancos to an 80-82 triumph. His PIR of 41 tied for the second-highest since the current playoff format was introduced in 2005. Tavares remained the dominant force for Real in Game 4, in which he scored 15 points, grabbed 7 rebounds and blocked 2 shots. He drew 11 fouls and made 7 of 8 free throws in amassing a PIR of 30. Tavares was the MVP for both Games 3 and 4 of the playoffs.

Game 5 was a do-or-die contest for both teams and Tavares found himself plagued by foul trouble early and often. He committed his second foul late in the first quarter and his third midway through the second. Real struggled without him and fell behind by as many as 18 points. Partizan still led by double figures when Tavares was called for his fourth foul with 4 minutes left in the third quarter. Real head coach Chus Mateo rolled the dice on keeping Tavares on the floor and was rewarded handsomely. Tavares produced 6 points and 4 rebounds and drew 5 fouls over the game's final quarter and a half to help propel Real to victory. As a defensive anchor, Tavares's presence and intimidation affected countless Partizan shots and helped seal off the paint when it mattered most.

Tavares finished the playoffs with an average PIR of 26.8, which was the third-highest ever in a playoff series and the highest for a player on a winning team. He was the playoff leader in average total rebounds (7.5), offensive rebounds (2.8), blocks (1.8) and fouls drawn (6.3), and ranked second in shooting percentage (70.6%), third in points (16.3) and tied for ninth in steals (1.0), lesser numbers than they might have been because he played barely half of Game 1 due to injury. 

A two-time winner of the Best Defender Trophy as voted by head coaches, Tavares is in his sixth EuroLeague season, all of which have come with Real. He now heads to his fourth Final Four and will try to win his second continental crown in fine form as the MVP for April/May.

For just the second time in his 12 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague seasons, [Kostas Sloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kostas-sloukas/001926/) is MVP of the Round – and it could not have come at a better time for the team he captains, Olympiacos Piraeus. Sloukas willed the Reds to an 84-72 win in Game 5 against Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, his former team, to capture a 3-2 series victory and the team's second Final Four qualification in a row. His performance index rating of 27, the highest among winning players across three Game 5s this week, was based on his team-high 22 points and game-high 6 assists, all of which seemed to come at moments when the Reds needed him most. Sloukas achieved a couple of milestones in the process, too, dishing his 1,500th assist late in the game and becoming just the sixth player in EuroLeague history to surpass 4,000 PIR for his career. What's more, Sloukas will now compete in his ninth Final Four, which ties him for the second-most among players this century.

For just the second time in his 12 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague seasons, Kostas Sloukas of Olympiacos Piraeus is an MVP of the Round -- and it could not have come at a better time. Sloukas willed Olympiacos to an 84-72 win in Game 5 against Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, his former team, to catapult the Reds into their second Final Four in a row.

Kostas Sloukas | Playoffs Game 5 MVP | 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

The highest PIR of Game 5 was 35 by [Wade Baldwin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/wade-baldwin-iv/009863/) of Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv despite his team's 97-86 loss at the hands of AS Monaco. Baldwin combined 27 points, 7 assists and 6 rebounds while coming within a fraction of stealing the top scorer spot for the season. Next came [Sergio Rodriguez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/sergio-rodriguez/cvm/) of Real Madrid and [Kevin Punter](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kevin-punter/009862/) of Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, with PIRs of 26 each in the same Game 5. Rodriguez scored 11 of his season-high 19 points in the final quarter and dished 6 assists as Real rallied to defeat Partizan 98-94 and take the series in which it had trailed 0-2. Punter scored a game-high 28 points and dished 3 assists for Partizan.

Real's [Dzanan Musa](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/dzanan-musa/006540/) and [Jordan Loyd](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/jordan-loyd/009754/) of Monaco tied for Game 5's fifth-highest PIR with 24 each. Musa had 20 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists for Real, while Loyd posted 21 points with perfect 3-for-3 shooting from the arc for Monaco.

Game 5 MVP: Kostas Sloukas, Olympiacos Piraeus

Olympiacos Piraeus v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2023-05-09T18:30:00.000Z)

Scoring 27 points in a do-or-die Game 5 in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs would typically result in that player being on the winning side and celebrating the fact that his team has made it to the Final Four. However, for Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv's Wade Baldwin, his heroics were not enough as AS Monaco came away with a 97-86 victory.

Wade Baldwin's heroic effort came up short for Maccabi

Scoring 27 points in a do-or-die Game 5 in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs would typically result in that player being on the winning side and celebrating the fact that his team has made it to the Final Four. However, for Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv's Wade Baldwin, his heroics were not enough as AS Monaco came away with a 97-86 victory.

 

Of course, Baldwin's main aim in Game 5 was to help Maccabi reach the Final Four for the first time since 2014, when it became EuroLeague champion for the sixth time, but he came incredibly close to achieving a personal achievement on Wednesday night.

Wade Baldwin scored a game-high 27 points in Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv's 97-86 Game 5 defeat at AS Monaco in the 2023 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs.

Wade Baldwin's best scoring plays vs. Monaco

If Baldwin had scored 3 more points, taking his tally to 30, he would have finished the season as the EuroLeague's best scorer, meaning that he'd walk away with the Alphonso Ford Top Scorer Award. Instead, that honor goes to Olympiacos Piraeus's Sasha Vezenkov, who beat Baldwin by a whisker. If you look at the stats, both have a 17.2 points per game average, but dig a little beneath the surface and you see that Vezenkov averaged 17.23 to Baldwin's 17.17.

 

Baldwin not only finished Game 5 as Maccabi's leading scorer, but he also had the most assists with 7, the joint most rebounds with 6 and the joint most steals with 1. He drew 8 fouls, too, more than any other Maccabi player. The Israeli side may have come up short, but Baldwin reminded everybody of his quality this year – and the EuroLeague's "best backcourt" of Baldwin and Lorenzo Brown, as the former proclaimed, will be back better and stronger next season.

Game Videos

Wade Baldwin's heroic effort came up short for Maccabi in Game 5

Just when AS Monaco needed a spark in Game 5 of its series against Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in the 2023 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs, Chima Moneke was there. The 27-year-old has had a turbulent time with the club since arriving in mid-season, yet his energy, hustle and determination were all on display as he helped Monaco book its ticket to the Final Four for the first-ever time.

Monaco's Chima Moneke rose to the occasion in Game 5

Just when AS Monaco needed a spark in Game 5 of its series against Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in the 2023 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs, Chima Moneke was there. The 27-year-old has had a turbulent time with the club since arriving in mid-season, yet his energy, hustle and determination were all on display as he helped Monaco book its ticket to the Final Four for the first-ever time.

 

It would have been easy for Moneke to feel a little disheartened coming into Game 5, as he had back-to-back DNPs in Games 1 and 2 before ending with totals of 0 points and 0 rebounds from Games 3 and 4 in Tel Aviv, in which he spent a combined 12:54 on the court. Yet, Monaco head coach Sasa Obradovic gave him a chance in Game 5 – and it paid off.

Chima Moneke had 10 points, 4 rebounds and 1 block in AS Monaco's 97-68 win against Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in Game 5 of the 2023 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs.

Chima Moneke's highlights vs. Maccabi

Moneke spent 22:53 on the court in Game 5, finishing with 10 points, having gone 3-of-5 on two-pointers and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line, while he also grabbed 4 rebounds – 2 on each end of the court – and blocked 1 shot. All in all, it was an impressive night's work for the EuroLeague rookie.

 

"This is definitely one of the happiest moments of my basketball career, for sure," Moneke said in the post-game interview afterward. "\[Mainly\] because of how my season has gone, being injured for a month and then coming back and not playing, and not playing as much as I thought and deserved. Yeah, I couldn’t be happier right now."

 

Monaco was led by the 21 points scored by Mike James in the first half, but after the break – and especially it in the fourth quarter – the likes of Moneke, Elie Okobo and Donta Hall, all of whom started on the bench, came up with big plays. For Coach Obradovic, it was just what he wanted to see ahead of the Final Four: all of his roster stepping up when their season is on the line.

Even before tip-off when Real Madrid hosted Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade for a place in the Final Four, one thing was clear: the visiting team would have to find a way to stop Walter Tavares, the MVP of both Game 3 and Game 4 to keep Real’s hopes alive.

Tavares overcame foul trouble to deliver

Even before tip-off when Real Madrid hosted Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade for a place in the Final Four, one thing was clear: the visiting team would have to find a way to stop Walter Tavares, the MVP of both Game 3 and Game 4 to keep Real’s hopes alive.

Zeljko Obradovic decided to start with Alen Smailagic and that initial plan worked perfectly: Smailagic scored against Tavares on his team’s first possession, then draw a foul from the Real big man at the other end. Before long, Tavares picked up his second foul and went to the bench for a while, and after returning in the second quarter he was called for his third foul and didn’t play again before the break. By halftime, Tavares had just 6 points, 1 rebound and 3 fouls – and his lack of productivity was one of the main reasons for his team’s 16-point deficit.

After the break, things initially got no better for Real, whose hopes appeared to suffer a mortal blow when Tavares was called for his fourth foul with 14 minutes still remaining. Partizan forward Ioannis Papapetrou converted both resulting free throws, then Zach LeDay hit a triple for a 56-72 lead, and it looked like the game was almost over.

But Real coach Chus Mateo took the bold decision to leave Tavares in the game and soon got his reward. The giant center scored a fierce dunk, grabbed 2 defensive rebounds, scored again with a foul and converted the free throw…and was only then taken to the bench, having helped pull back the margin to 12 points.

Tavares soon re-emerged when Eli Ndiaye fouled out just 22 seconds into the final period, tasked with staying in the game for as long as possible and playing as effectively as possible on 4 fouls. That proved to be playing for the rest of the game, and playing very effectively indeed, as Tavares used his physical presence draw fouls, grab rebounds and generally intimidate a Partizan offense that was running out of ideas. 

Despite playing on 4 fouls for more than 10 minutes, Tavares ended with 12 points, a game-high 7 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 blocked shot for a PIR of 16. Partizan had nearly knocked Real’s main man out of the game, but not quite. 

Real Madrid v Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (2023-05-10T19:00:00.000Z)