It was something of a Déjà-vu. A few minutes after the final siren, the basketball players of Alba Berlin stood at the gang of Advertising. Disappointed, shocked, looks empty. Like a year ago, the Berliners were in the Cup final so close to the victory, led shortly before the end, even with a two-point lead. But then, the Bamberg grabbed a Rebound, Alba stand in a disorderly fashion, and an open Three-point shot, of the Greeks, Nikos Zisis gave the zerfahrenen, but highly exciting game with 2.4 seconds before the end, a final twist. 83:82 (16:20, 21:24, 17:19, 28:20) for Bamberg. “My heart is broken right this second,” said Albas Joshiko Saibou.
It was the third defeat in the third final in the one and a half year tenure of coach Aito Garcia Reneses. Alba still waiting for the first title since 2016. Three years, for such a, at least formerly, spoiled by success club is an eternity.
was fought For every Ball
While the tragic end to Albanian as in the previous year felt, was the course of the game the quite the opposite. Against Munich, the Berlin long had led, and were the better Team. On Sunday, certain Bamberg, large parts of the action, Alba found only rarely to its fast, exciting Basketball. So it was not possible to the people of Berlin to bring the infamous Bamberg audience to Silence.
Already 20 minutes before the start of the Cup final, it became clear, why it is referred to the city in Basketball circles as a “Freak City”. The hall speaker to managed to what is probably the only possible way, both groups to address: with the lowest common denominator, the aversion, the Munich-based basketball players. “Many thanks to Alba Berlin for the switch-Off of the Bayern,” said hall spokesman, referring to Berlin’s success in the quarter-finals. 6150 spectators – including about 700 in Berlin – in the sold-out Arena made a hell of noise.
this remained in the following 40 minutes of play, was not a good sign for Alba. In the initial phase, the Team, in the surprisingly new arrival Derrick Walton and not Center Dennis Clifford status fact, extremely difficult. Alba was missing the rhythm, nine ball losses in the first quarter revealed this. Bamberg players took more than twice as many litters. Good news there was in the face of these Figures, nevertheless for the guests: The residue amounted to ten minutes only four points.
the atmosphere in The hall had guessed that it was to much. The opponents fought for every Ball, discussed after many referee decisions, and cheered every basket. The Berliner had but also nervous. “We knew it was one of the keys is to allow Alba to come Running,” said Bamberg coach Federico Perego. The managed hosts. Alba was often compelled to look for until the end of the attack time of an optimal throwing position. A discipline that is experienced Bamber better.
in Addition, Alba had problems on the big positions. Johannes Thiemann made a good game, Landry Nnoko was but three quick Fouls and had even heavier weighed in: Luke Sikma due to illness, not able to train for two days and was far away from his normal form.
This was Rokas Giedraitis leave. The Lithuanians scored early in the second half, eight points in a row, and shortened the gap. It should, however, be the last of Berlin’s points for many minutes. On the faces of the guests, something of a perplexity arose, for the first Time, wide, the game threatened to slip away from Alba. “We have not aggressively looked like three-quarter length is good,” said Alba’s captain Niels Giffey.
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for example, lots of youth development work, such As Alba to the largest basketball club in Germany
Martin hermit Julian Graeber
it was Also the beginning of the final quarter, the guests made too many simple errors, for Nnoko the game with the fifth Foul was terminated prematurely. But then Peyton Siva and Giedraitis started the great race to catch up. From nine points behind to two points ahead were within a few minutes – but then Zisis came.
