Playing or watching the sport of basketball - Alba Berlin compels a fifth match against Chemnitz.
Alba Berlin's basketball team manages to steer clear from an early season exit in the semi-finals of the German championship. They were able to force a deciding fifth game by outscoring Niners Chemnitz 96-85 (43:51) on Tuesday night in front of an audience of 5,000 people. This puts the series on a par at 2-2, and the pivotal match that will determine the ultimate spot is scheduled for Thursday in Berlin. Sterling Brown and Martin Hermannsson led Alba with 25 and 19 points individually.
The match got off to an exhilarating start, with the away team committing several turnovers. However, Alba had difficulties matching the cadence and fell behind for the majority of the first quarter. As the game progressed, the Berliners found their groove and secured their first-ever edge with a couple of minutes left in the initial half (24:22).
But the home team had a ready response in store. The Berliners' offensive strategy caused concern, with only Brown keeping them afloat. The home team failed to prevent easy points, enabling Chemnitz to gradually increase their lead before halftime.
In the second half, the lead was extended to ten points (43:53). But Alba steadily regained control, point by point. Six and a half minutes prior to the conclusion, the Berliners regained the lead (77:75). Now, with the momentum on their side, they clinched the encounter with a final 12-1 scoring spell.
The winning team on Thursday will battle FC Bayern Munich in the final series.
