German Basketball League - Alba Berlin faces a must-win situation in Chemnitz for survival.
Alba Berlin finds themselves in a tough spot during the Basketball Bundesliga championship. They need to win their upcoming semi-final match against Niners Chemnitz on Tuesday (6:30 pm/Dyn) to keep their season alive. Sporting Director Himar Ojeda aims to raise the stakes for the team, "You have the upper hand right now, but it's just 1-2. Of course, it will be very difficult since they play incredibly well."
If Alba Berlin manages to overcome the effects of their recent 72:84 loss from Sunday's game, they have a fighting chance. "We hope this game won't haunt them. We need to ensure such a scenario doesn't occur again," expressed Ojeda. Throughout the game, Alba Berlin seemed in control with a 17-point lead in the middle of the third quarter.
Unfortunately, it all fell apart. "It was total darkness, and ultimately, we were done for," said the Sporting Director. Tim Schneider, wing player for Alba, voiced his opinion at Dyn, "We became uncertain and tossed the ball around carelessly. We couldn't handle the pressure Niners Chemnitz was applying."
The Berlin team started crumbling like a stack of cards. Their enthusiasm waned, and they seemed a bit disoriented. "It gets stuck in your mind. And then you also feel the weariness of the numerous miles you've covered this season in your legs," explained Ojeda. For him, it's an issue of their mental state. "Our self-assurance disappeared. Our faith in ourselves started shrinking. And as our situation worsened, their confidence rose," he revealed.
