Highlights: A Popular Game That Attracts Millions of Fans - Alba vows retribution against Bayern in their upcoming rematch.
Following a disappointing defeat in the initial match of the German basketball championship's final series, Alba Berlin has vowed to hit back at FC Bayern.
"We fought like fierce animals and will do the same, hopefully with a better outcome this time," said Berlin's Tim Schneider after the 67:79 loss. Despite numerous injuries and fatigue, Berlin put up a valiant effort against Munich for three-quarters before succumbing.
For the second final game of the Best-of-Five series on Monday (8:30 pm/Dyn), the Berliners refuse to be disheartened by their setback. "I'm confident that we'll return, giving it our all to tie things up at 1-1," declared Schneider on the Dyn channel. But Alba's diminishing energy and the fact that they needed to replace several injured players doesn't look good.
The status of captain and world champion Johannes Thiemann, who was out due to a knee injury, is uncertain for Monday. "We'll have to wait and see day by day," said coach Israel Gonzalez.
Bayern remains alert
The Bayern team does not plan to rest on their laurels after taking the lead. "I told my players: This is just the beginning," underscored Munich's coach Pablo Laso. Former NBA champion Serge Ibaka stressed, "We have to work just as hard as today." Even captain Vladimir Lucic reiterated, "It's only 1:0, Alba is a strong team. We need to be prepared for the next game."
Although Berlin suffered from a lack of preparation time for the start of the final series and missed several key players due to injuries, they still managed to hold their ground against Bayern for three-quarters. Alba demonstrated a robust defense and scored point after point in the offense.
Olinde averts a shutout
Almost no points were scored by Berlin in the final quarter, and only 50 seconds before the game ended, Louis Olinde scored the first points due to free throws; the final score remained meager at five points. "Our spirit ran dry in the fourth quarter," admitted Berlin's Matt Thomas.
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Alba Berlin, hailing from the heart of Berlin, seeks revenge against FC Bayern Munich in their upcoming Bundesliga playoff match. This rematch follows a challenging loss in the initial game of the German basketball championship final series. Despite facing numerous injuries and fatigue, Alba gave a valiant fight until the third quarter before succumbing to FC Bayern.
Tim Schneider, Berlin's captain, remains confident, stating that they will return with renewed energy to tie the series at 1-1 in the second final game on Monday. However, the uncertainty surrounding the return of world champion Johannes Thiemann due to a knee injury adds an element of doubt to their plans.
Meanwhile, FC Bayern's coach Pablo Laso and players like Serge Ibaka and Vladimir Lucic are not taking this 1-0 lead for granted, emphasizing the need to maintain their effort and preparation for the next game. Although Alba struggled with a lack of preparation time and key player injuries in the beginning of the final series, they still managed to hold their ground against FC Bayern for three quarters, showcasing a robust defense and scoring points in the offense.
In the end, Berlin's offense faltered in the final quarter, with Louis Olinde scoring the only points due to free throws with just 50 seconds left. Despite the narrow scoreline, Matt Thomas admitted that their spirit waned in the fourth quarter.
As Alba and FC Bayern prepare for their rematch in the Bundesliga playoffs, the energy and determination in both teams promise an exciting and closely contested series. In the realm of German basketball, the stage is set for a fascinating showdown between Alba Berlin and FC Bayern Munich, the two most prominent clubs in Bundesliga and BBL. And with former NBA champion Serge Ibaka leading Munich's charge, Tim Schneider and Alba Berlin will need to dig deep to secure a come-from-behind victory in this highly anticipated clash.
