Big Bash League Finals - Distraught Bayern basketball players as Alba levels the score.
Under the guidance of two former NBA stars, Alba Berlin has now managed to even the German basketball championship final series against FC Bayern. By winning in Munich with a score of 79-70 (39:32), the Berliners have tied the best-of-five series at 1:1. The standout player for Alba against a confused Bayern squad was sharpshooter Matt Thomas, who scored 21 points. Sterling Brown, who, like Thomas, has played in the world's top basketball league in North America, chipped in with 17 points in the victory.
Bayern fell short, particularly on offense, as their top scorer in Munich was Carsen Edwards with only 17 points. The final series between Germany's top basketball teams will continue with two games in Berlin on Wednesday (8:30 p.m.) and Friday (6:00 p.m.). This means that the German basketball champion could potentially be crowned the evening of the opening match of the UEFA Euro 2020.
Following a victory by Bayern in the first final game on Saturday, thanks to a strong fourth quarter against exhausted Berliners, the hosts actually got off to a good start in this game. They led by 13 points after only six minutes. However, this so-called "lead" was short-lived. In the second quarter, the Berliners fought back, catching up to and ultimately surpassing the Munich players.
During the second quarter of play, Bayern scored an embarrassingly low six points against Alba. Bayern's club president Herbert Hainer admitted that he had "never experienced anything like that before" in the team's BMW Arena. Munich's reserve player, Leandro Bolmaro, echoed this sentiment, describing the situation as "really bad" on the Dyn channel.
After satifying their fans with a good start, Bayern's coach Pablo Laso wasn't so happy during his half-time speech. His message didn't seem to have much of an impact on the team, as Alba maintained their momentum and intensity in defense throughout the third quarter. Captain Johannes Thiemann, who didn't play in the first game due to a patellar tendon injury, returned to the Berliners. Although Thiemann wasn't at his best, he came back strong, playing through the pain and repeatedly hopping around the court with a distorted face.
The fact that Alba was forced to play without a nominal guard as all three Berlin playmakers were injured in the final series didn't seem to make much of a difference in this game, as they managed to secure the win in the end.
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- Despite the setback in Munich, FC Bayern still has a chance to win the German basketball championship, with two games scheduled in Berlin's 02 World Arena.
- The BBL (Bundesliga Basketball) final series between FC Bayern and ALBA Berlin is closely followed by basketball enthusiasts in Bavaria and throughout North America.
- The Berlin team's performance in Munich was reminiscent of their past performances in ALBA Berlin's Max-Schmeling-Halle, a familiar territory for them.
- Sterling Brown, who previously played in the NBA, shared his thoughts on the team's performance in Munich during a post-game interview on Dyn channel.
- The BBL title isn't the only thing at stake this season for ALBA Berlin, as they also had their eyes set on qualifying for the FIBA Europe Cup and the Basketball Champions League, both being prestigious tournaments in Europe.
- The German basketball community is eagerly waiting for the final series, with many fans comparing it to the historic Final of Bundesliga between ALBA Berlin and FC Bayern Munich in 2014.
- Should ALBA Berlin manage to win the BBL title, they would join the ranks of other successful German basketball teams such as Brose Baskets and Telekom Baskets Bonn, who have also lifted the trophy.
- The soon-to-be crowned German basketball champion will have an opportunity to face a strong international opponent, given that the NBA's playoffs are underway in North America.
- The combination of FC Bayern's star players and ALBA Berlin's resilience, adaptability, and teamwork has created an engaging and exciting series for basketball fans across Germany and other parts of Europe.
