81:69 in the third game
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Alba wins in Munich and leads again in the final series
Alba Berlin has taken the lead again in the final series of the German Basketball Championship. The defending champion won the third game of the series in Munich with 81:69. Alba already has the chance to defend his championship title on Sunday.
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With a strong performance, especially in the final quarter, Alba Berlin took back the lead in the final series of the German Basketball Championship. In the third game of the series – the first in Munich – the Berliners won 81:69 (37:37) on Saturday.
Alba now has two opportunities to defend his title from last year. The first chance is on Sunday, in the second game in Munich (3 p.m.).
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Alba’s changed starting five starts off strong
Alba’s coach Aito Garcia Reneses reacted to the weak opening phase in the second game of the series with a starting five that was changed in several positions. For the first time in the finals of the German championship, Luke Sikma started for Alba. Maodo Lo, Marcus Eriksson and Center Christ Koumadje were also new on the floor. Only Simone Fontecchio was allowed to start again.
The move worked. Alba started the game perfectly in Munich with a 9-0 run. The Berliners managed in these early phases to cause problems for the Munich team with their attack speed.
However, the defending champion did not manage to maintain this initial momentum for long. On the contrary: In the middle of the first quarter, Alba was four minutes without a basketball success – because Bayern defended better and the Berliners awarded a few throws from good positions. Munich came up and ensured an almost even result at the end of the first quarter (19:18 for Alba).
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Despite a weak three-way quota in the game
A game developed in which the two teams alternated with runs – phases in which they scored a lot themselves and the opponent did not. The next went to Bayern, especially in the person of the former Berliner Nihad Djedovic, who played strongly in the middle of the second quarter. In the meantime, the Berliners were already 29:37 behind, but they too caught a run and equalized the game at half-time. The break started at 37:37.
This interim result was particularly noteworthy because the Alba Berlin team had been on the road with an exceptionally low quota for their circumstances. Especially from the three-point line, the rate was very low at just 24 percent. In return, Alba came to many offensive rebounds – an important lifeline with the numerous false throws from outside.
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Alba has more power reserves
The picture didn’t change even after the break. Again, the dominant phases of both teams alternated. Bayern presented, an 11-0 run gave Munich the interim 50:41 lead. Alba came back, equalized and took a spectacular lead shortly before the end of the quarter: During a fast break in the final seconds, Maodo Lo kept an eye on Tim Schneider at the 3-point line. The Alba homegrown remained completely free and cool and turned the litter into a 59:56 lead.
Following the logic of this game, Bayern should have started another run. But Alba took the momentum and worked (without running) bit by bit a 9-point lead. In Munich, Dennis Seeley, their best scorer until then (23 points), was injured. He had to leave the field prematurely.
He was not the only Bayern player who sat on the hall floor during the game. Munich star Vladimir Lucic was also injured at the beginning of the game, he was able to return to the floor, but played less dominantly than usual. It seemed as if the Berliners, with the rotation chosen by coach Aito Reneses, had the greater reserves of strength.
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Two times the chance to win the title
In the final phase of the game, the Berliners got offensive momentum, they hit the throws. Bavaria, on the other hand, looked tired and exasperated. There was no comeback from the big rival in the final section. Instead, Alba hurried and easily played the third game of the final series home.
In the end there is a clear 81:69 victory in Munich, which gives Alba two chances to win the title. The first on Sunday, again in Munich. Should Bayern win this game and equalize the series, the playoff would be on Tuesday (June 15, 7 p.m.) in Berlin.
Broadcast: rbb UM6, June 12th, 2021, 6 p.m.
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