© AS Monaco Basket
AS Monaco Basket opened the 2025–2026 season in emphatic style, claiming the inaugural French League SuperCup with a dominant 104–79 win over Le Mans at Roland Garros. The triumph not only secures the first title of the year but also underscores Monaco’s ambitions to contend for every trophy on offer this season.
From the opening whistle, the Roca Team imposed its will, mirroring Rafael Nadal’s philosophy on the same court where he built his tennis legend — leave nothing to chance. Monaco stormed through the first quarter 30–16, establishing control that Le Mans never managed to disrupt. Daniel Theis dominated inside, Elie Okobo hit from distance with consistency, and captain Mike James orchestrated the attack with trademark brilliance, earning MVP honors. “We played well as a team against a strong opponent. It’s a very positive way to begin the season,” Theis reflected after the match.
The collective strength of Monaco was on full display. Alpha Diallo contributed in multiple roles with 14 points and seven assists, while newcomer Nikola Mirotic quickly justified his star billing, adding finesse and firepower. For Le Mans, despite a valiant 24-point effort from Bogues, the gap in depth and cohesion was undeniable, stretching beyond 25 points at times. Coach Guillaume Vizade conceded Monaco’s superiority, pointing to the stability of their core and the impact of new arrivals like Mirotic.
For head coach Vassilis Spanoulis, this maiden trophy marks only the beginning. “This game must set the standard for our season. We’ve built a complete squad to compete for everything,” he affirmed. With targets across Betclic Élite, the Euroleague, Coupe de France, and Leaders Cup, Monaco’s statement victory signals their intent to dominate — and makes clear their rivals are in for a long campaign.