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89:86 victory against Munich: Alba Berlin keeps his nerve


89:86 victory against Munich

Alba Berlin keeps her nerve

Picture: imago images/camera4+

Alba Berlin used the home advantage in the first final against Munich. Throughout the game, the hosts kept the upper hand and, thanks to Maodo Lo, also got their nerves in the crucial minutes.

Another step towards mastery has been taken. Alba Berlin has won the first final duel against the basketball players of FC Bayern Munich. On Wednesday evening, the Berliners won the first game of the playoff final series against Munich 89:86 (45:40). The best thrower from Berlin was Marcus Eriksson with 23 hits.

The better start

Whether through sweaty hands in the excitement of the final or an idiosyncratic ball, both teams had to struggle with ball losses at the beginning. The Munich team slipped the ball five times in the first five minutes. As in the main rounds, Alba came into the game better and quickly took the lead, but was unable to clear away. The Bavarians remained in wait. Simone Fontecchio collected ten points, six of them on the free-throw line, and made a decisive contribution to the 24:18 quarter-end result.

Alba coach Aito Garcia Reneses brought 2.21m center Christ Koumadje. The Bavarians managed to lure Koumadje away from the basket again and again and to use the resulting space for themselves. The teams remained with a slight lead on the Berlin side. Ben Lammers came for Koumadje, but Bayern stayed on. Nihad Djedovic equalized eight minutes in the quarter with a threesome (38:38). Because Munich exceeded the foul limit, Alba managed to restore the gap at the free throw line and went into the cabin with 45:40.

No clear guidance

“The Berliners get a lot of rebounds and are strong under the board,” said Bayern player Robin Amaize in a half-time interview. In addition, Berlin have met too many threesomes. In the first half, the hosts had brought 18 rebounds and hit six of 16 three-pointers. However, Bayern were unable to implement what was said after the break. Alba stayed in the lead and the guests made up their five fouls. Christ Koumadje showed how his size can be successfully integrated into the team. First Luke Sikma helped him to alley oop and then Koumadje blocked Zan Sisko’s lay-up after a sprint across the field. The Berliners expanded their lead to nine points.

In the final quarter, the Munich team had to do without Wade Baldwin early on, who got the second technical foul after a bump against Malte Delow. Encouraged by the fact that one of their best throwers (13 points) had to sit on the bench, the Munich team turned it up again. Markus Eriksson referred the guests back to an eight-point gap with his sixth successful three. But the quarter belonged to the Bavarians, who got their fouls under control and waited for their chance. With two minutes to go, James Gist equalized. Alba couldn’t find an answer and Munich took the lead. Maodo Lo, who had remained inconspicuous until then, brought Alba back with a two and a three. Fourteen seconds before the end he put another three to the 89-86 victory.

See you soon

For the albatrosses it was the 80th game of the season across all competitions. For Bayern No. 87. But there is not much time to rest or for tactical changes. In less than 24 hours, the two teams face each other again. The second game will take place on Thursday (June 10th, 8:30 pm) in the Mercedes-Benz Arena. In order to shorten the travel distances during the pandemic, the teams always stay two playoff games in a row in one place. The Berliners travel to Munich only for the third game.

Broadcast: Inforadio, June 9th, 2021, 10 p.m.

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