Hamburg – Against the NINERS Chemnitz, the Hamburg Towers will play their last home game before the turn of the year on Sunday (3 p.m.). The duel with the newcomer brings back memories. Magenta Sport will broadcast live from the edel-optics.de arena from 2.45 p.m.
The Christmas story by Charles Dickens brought the main character Ebenezer Scrooge a meeting with the Christmas ghosts, who made the once grouchy protagonist for one or the other decisive change. The schedule of the easyCredit-Basketball-Bundesliga, on the other hand, gives the Hamburg Towers a reunion with the NINERS Chemnitz just one day after Christmas and thus a kind of return of the spirit of the second division.
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In the 2nd basketball Bundesliga ProA, the Hanseatic and Saxony fought 15 exciting duels between 2014 and 2019 – including the decisive fifth semi-final in the 2019 playoffs, which the Hamburg Towers just won 78:72 and thus the right to promotion to the Bundesliga secured.
“I know it’s an important game for both organizations because of the shared history of both clubs. I assume that Chemnitz will come here highly motivated, with an open bill, “said Head Coach Pedros Calles, who emphasized the special importance not only in the week before Christmas, but also during the preparatory game in mid-October, when the Towers were just as close (84:79). won, felt.
Radiant faces, champagne showers, party atmosphere – these are the sometimes blurred, but not forgotten memories of the Towers family of the historic moment of ascent. The simultaneous disappointment, sad faces in the stands and tears of the then NINERS actors – the other side of the story – can basketball enthusiasts since December 21st. in the documentary “Unfinished Business” as well as relive the entire story of the rise of NINERS Chemnitz to the BBL.
607 days have passed since this landmark moment for both clubs. But while the newcomer from 2019, Hamburg Towers, is currently in the top group with just one defeat in its second BBL year, the newcomer from 2020, NINERS Chemnitz, is currently in the lower table region with only one success.
“The results so far are probably not what you imagined. But we mustn’t forget at this point that they had to be quarantined right before the start of the season, ”says Head Coach Pedro Calles about the difficult starting conditions for Chemnitz.
A total of seven players from last year’s promotion team, which celebrated a sensational 25 wins in 27 games, are still in the squad of the Argentinian trainer Rodrigo Pastore. With a short interruption, but still the longest – 37-year-old Virgil Matthews is currently playing his sixth season for Chemnitz and holds all the club’s internal records. Appearances, steals, assists – the veteran has seen and experienced almost everything, now including his BBL debut. This makes him the oldest Bundesliga rookie in history. The oldie has been going through the ProA since 2006, when the current Chemnitz top performers Marcus Thornton (12.4 PpS), Isiaha Mike (12.0) and Terrell Harris (11.1) all still went to school.
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The three North Americans are responsible for more than a third of all litters taken and scored points in the Saxon team. They get support from BBL-experienced Joe Lawson (11.0 PpS), who was already active in Chemnitz from 2016 to 2018 and has been part of the team since December after stints in Crailsheim and Braunschweig, and the European-experienced and last year’s Polish top scorer George King ( 10.7). The German big men Jan Niklas Wimberg and Johannes Richter ensure the necessary centimeters and presence under the baskets.
Exactly there, namely in the zone, there could be further bottlenecks in the Towers squad, which has already been injured recently. Because with Marvin Ogunsipe, who was already battered before the last game – but did not want to sit out at his own request – and Maik Kotsar, who landed rudely on the elbow in the 98:94 away win, there are currently still question marks behind the use. Even with top scorer Kameron Taylor, who according to head coach Pedro Calles “is already on the verge of returning”, a mission is still questionable because “we don’t want to rush anything”.
The quiet giant underlined in the #InsidetheTeam interview that Center Kotsar, who celebrated his 24th birthday during the week, wants to be there at the last home game in 2020. “We got a day off from our coaches on Christmas Eve. But otherwise, also on the Christmas holidays, we train normally and will do our best to prepare ourselves perfectly for Chemnitz. So we are in the hall every day and work hard, ”said the 2.11-meter colossus.
While the professionals were able to enjoy a few contemplative hours with their families and partners either on Christmas Eve or on the morning of Christmas Day, Christmas is only celebrated at the Calles family after the New Year. “In the Spanish tradition, Christmas starts on December 24th with the birth of Jesus and lasts until January 6th. In traditional families, Epiphany is celebrated, more modern families celebrate Christmas on the night of December 24th to 25th. We want to keep the traditions that my parents brought me closer to, and I want to pass them on to my children, ”said Coach Calles, who is fully focused on the upcoming match day despite the pre-Christmas atmosphere.
A quick chat before the game:
Pedro Calles: “As a climber you always play with extra motivation and the will to prove yourself at the BBL level. The results so far are probably not what you imagined. But we mustn’t forget at this point that they had to be quarantined right before the start of the season. I have a lot of respect for the work of Coach Rodrigo Pastore, the way his team plays basketball. So I expect a difficult game. “
“The specialty of the duel is probably not that noticeable with the players. But already in the preparation in the summer and also now this week, I perceived a special importance. I know it’s an important game for both organizations because of the shared history of both clubs. I assume that Chemnitz will come here highly motivated, with an outstanding bill. “
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