After a series of errors, Alpha Diallo delivered a titanic end to the match against Paris in the 4th episode of the Betclic Elite final

Scanning a stats sheet can help understand the meaning of a match, but it doesn't tell its entire story. There's more to grasp. The impact of the shadows, the sense of struggle and duty to remain dignified even when the scenario spirals out of control. Alpha Diallo is one of those players, driven by something great to tick off collective objectives. At 27, the winger didn't wait for this fiery Match 4 to make a name for himself on the Rock, but he wrote another brilliant line in an already well-stocked personal book. Captain of a Monaco team that had once again become a fighting machine, the New Yorker showed the way. However, for a long time, the afternoon didn't seem to be turning out for him. More intense duels and more marked banter punctuated this new showdown, and the Monegasque quickly paid the price.

Penalized before being decisive

Embroiled in a scuffle, Diallo received a simple foul for stepping on TJ Shorts , then an unsportsmanlike foul for connecting with the American elf. A combination that came to penalize him: finishing a match of this level with three fouls after 13 minutes is not easy, and ASM could have been worried. "I was very worried for Monaco because he was absent for practically the entire match," admits former Monaco pivot Ali Traoré, an informed spectator. "But for him, it's not a problem..." At work, the former Lavrio (Greece) player bided his time. Accepting his fate, especially when Vassilis Spanoulis had to coach him to protect him. Especially since the boy received his fourth foul at the start of the third quarter (23rd), forcing him to watch his friends from afar, or even play with fire. A player of his importance theoretically has no place on the bench, and his return in the final round was decisive for the Roca Team. A strong man under the rim to grab monstrous rebounds and a cool-headed beast to punish and sink free throws, "Alpha Jet" stepped on the gas.

"Apparently, he doesn't mind not having a rhythm during the match," smiles Ali Traoré. "He's so important: in terms of intensity, rebounding, defense... He was exceptional." Long kept warm given the conditions, the number 11 played less than 20 minutes but delivered a final quarter like a boss: 8 points, 4 rebounds and an impeccable 4/4 on the line, thanks for the work! "I think he wanted to make an impression by coming back strong," imagines Yakuba Ouattara , the former player of the house now Parisian. When he's on the field, you feel it right away. How? Physically! He's one of the best defenders in Europe, so obviously it changes a lot of things when he's on the field."