Bayern's basketball team triumphs, exploiting Alba's downfall for the title win.
In Game 4 of the final series of the German Basketball League, it appears that home team Alba Berlin might secure a 2-2 tie. However, after the break, Bayern Munich's key players take control. Bayern Munich clinches the championship and celebrates as the newly crowned champions.
First match ball utilized: The basketball squad of Bayern Munich ended their season with a Double win and claimed the title for the first time since 2019. Coach Pablo Laso's team secured the victory in Game 4 of the intense Play-off Final series against long-time rival Alba Berlin with a score of 86:82 (44:46).
The opponents, who attained Meisterstatus at ratiopharm Ulm due to their 3:1 in the Best-of-five-Series, had Carsen Edwards as their top player with 29 points. Munich set the stage for a second Double win since 2018 with a 67:63 victory at the same location on a Wednesday. For the 11-time champions Alba, who were champions from 2020 to 2022, this denotes the second straight season without a title.
Berlin begins with a defensive surge
Andreas Obst, a World Champion, advised before the game that Game 2 should serve as a lesson that Alba should never be underestimated and that they always have to be ready for a response from Berlin. The Berliners heeded his advice and refused to be intimidated at the start. In front of the Franz and Moritz Wagner brothers from the NBA club Orlando Magic, who had won gold with Obst in Manila the previous year, the Berliners refused to capitulate and shifted the momentum at the start of the second quarter – after 16 minutes, Alba held a commanding 10-point lead (38:28).
The Bundesliga leader from Munich, who had lost unexpectedly at home after their first victory and regained the home advantage on a Wednesday evening at the Berlin Uber Arena, faced problems against the aggressive defense of the hosts and managed to catch up thanks to Carsen Edwards' strong play – at halftime, the score was still tied at 44:46.
"We're playing short-handed, but we're fighting," said Alba's sports director Himar Ojeda during the break. However, Ojeda had to watch as the Munich team extended their lead by six points after a three-point shot from Edwards (54:48). Edwards remained the dominant force, and Alba had no answer for the strong American. With a 13-point deficit going into the final quarter, Munich refused to surrender the victory despite fierce resistance from the Berliners, led by Sterling Brown (25 points) and supported by around 200 traveling fans.
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In the BBL (Basketball Bundesliga), Alba Berlin's title defense faces a challenge as they face Bayern Munich Basketball in the playoffs. Despite having a strong start and leading by 10 points, Alba Berlin struggled to maintain their advantage, allowing Bayern Munich to tie the score at halftime. In a pivotal Game 4, Bayern Munich eventually clinched the championship, securing a Double win and ending Alba Berlin's title streak.
Following their triumph, Bayern Munich Basketball will look forward to competing with rivals ALBA Berlin again in the upcoming BBL season, aiming to defend their title and continue their dominance in German basketball.
