Playoffs Sensational win for Baskets in Bamberg

Bonn · The Telekom Baskets beat Bamberg 93:92 in the quarter final series. The first home game in the Best of Five series is on Wednesday at the Telekom Dome.

Barely audible and without a trace of emotion in his voice, trainer Predrag Krunic commented on the Telekom Baskets’ game on Saturday that sent a small earthquake through German basketball. His team had just provided a sensation in the first quarter final game of the German championships against the defending title holders, Euroleague participants and runaway favourites Brose Bamberg and was 1:0 in the lead in the “Best of Five” series.

“It was only a game. I don’t want to talk too much about it. We played well and deserved to win. Now we are concentrating on the next task on Wednesday,” said Krunic after the 93:92 (25:22, 22:24, 26:26, 20:20) triumph.

Andrea Trinchieri did not hear what he said. The Bamberg coach had things to talk to his team about. A defeat against Bonn was not something he, his players or the majority of the 6150 spectators in the sold out Brose Arena had considered. Bamberg was in shock. “Bonn wanted the victory more,” said Trinchieri.

The game was decided in the last 21 seconds, when Bamberg’s Jerel McNeal could not use a bonus throw and lost the chance to put his team in the lead. The score remained 92:92. On the opposing side, TJ DiLeo showed his nerves and missed one of his two free throws, but Bamberg now only had 11 seconds for the winning throw or to force an extension. As Bamberg’s Daniel Theis could not catch a pass from Fabien Causeur, the entire Bonn bench leapt up certain of victory, because 0.8 seconds before the final siren nothing more could go wrong.

“We spoke the whole week about concentrating for the whole game, playing intensively and minimising our ball losses,” said Mayo. The key player was the hero of the day. He was top scorer with 25 points. Later the 29-year-old, who was named Man of the Match, good naturally answered questions from journalists as if he had just played an easy training game. Krunic said: “Josh played very well, But it was also a strong team performance. Each player gave his all.”

They will need to do so again in the second quarter final on Wednesday (8.30pm at the Telekom Dome). “Bamberg will come back stronger. We must be ready,” said Krunic, looking ahead. Bamberg Brose star Nicolo Melli has already promised: “We just need to reset our defence. Then everything will be fine.”

Original text: Gerhard Mertens. Translated by Kate Carey.

Meistgelesen
Neueste Artikel
Zum Thema
Aus dem Ressort