Bayern Munich fights Alba Berlin down

Alba Berlin appeared to be in for a surprise, leading in Munich. But Bayern won the basketball Euroleague 62:56.

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Berlin. Honorary President Uli Hoeneß got everything out of his gossip box on the grandstand of the Audi Dome that was possible. And it could have helped, because Bayern Munich with the outstanding Vladimir Lucic (19 points) won the prestigious duel in the basketball Euroleague against Alba Berlin 62:56 (26:24). The club from the Bavarian capital climbed to eighth place in the table, a play-off place. After the 15th defeat in the 21st game, Alba remains third from the bottom.

Impossibly unequal conditions before the two best German basketball teams meet: the hosts had recently won four games in a row and are completely in their rhythm. The guests had lost four games in a row after returning from the two-week corona quarantine. In addition, Munich has always left the floor as the winner against Berlin in the Euroleague – four times.

Alba Berlin starts furiously in the second half

Darned four, the German champions seemed to think to themselves and fought doggedly for their chance to finally make another step forward internationally. He defended extremely attentively and hardly allowed a free throw. This part of the tactic largely worked, as evidenced by the end result.

But that also says: Alba hit even worse than Bayern, who also showed an excellent defense. And initially it made a horrendous number of ball losses, eight in the first quarter. A thorn in Berlin’s flesh was Munich’s Nick Weiler-Babb, who alone recorded six ball wins in the first half. Alba dominated the rebounds and allowed fewer fouls. However, no team was able to gain a decisive advantage from this in the first twenty minutes.

The guests came out of the dressing room more attentively, the Bavarians seemed unfocused for a short time. Alba capitalized on a 14-1 run, led by Maodo Lo and captain Luke Sikma, even leading 41-29. Suddenly everything seemed easy, but the hosts were reluctant to give up the win, responding with a 12-3 run and going into the last quarter just three points behind. “It was clear that an answer would come,” commented Alba national player Johannes Thiemann.

Vladimir Lucic cannot be tamed by Alba Berlin

And there they took over with their energy and great athleticism. Mainly thanks to Lucic, who, despite fouls, converted a three-point shot to 58:52 in a long, tight game, including the following free throw. It was fitting that Lo, one of the best free throwers in the Euroleague with a hit rate well over 90 percent up to that point, missed four of these opportunities. Nevertheless, he was the best Berlin shooter with 13 points together with Jaleen Smith.

“We lacked freshness in the end,” said a disappointed Alba coach Israel Gonzalez. His team will play in the Bundesliga in Würzburg on Sunday.

Read more about Alba Berlin here.

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