Relegation drama in the easycredit Basketball Bundesliga!
Before the 34th matchday, three teams can still be relegated, in addition to the Tigers Tübingen, who are bottom of the league. In the end, after a real thriller, the Hakro Merlins Crailsheim are the ones who get relegated. On the other hand, there is celebration for the MLP Academics Heidelberg and the Rostock Seawolves.
Curious: Heidelberg coach Ingo Freyer saves the third club in three years as a fireman! In 2022 he will be a late savior at the EWE Baskets Oldenburg, in 2023 at the MBC — and now at the Academics!
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The situation is tough: The Merlins are hosting second-placed Alba Berlin. The Seawolves have to play against the main round champions FC Bayern. Two very, very tough tasks! The Heidelbergers have it easier, relegated Tübingen are the guests.
One thing is clear: Crailsheim, as second to last, has to win one way or another to pull off the miracle. A defeat would mean relegation. If all three teams win, the Merlins would also be gone.
3.32 p.m.: The game in Crailsheim is starting! As of now, the Merlins have been relegated. Dyn commentator Chris Schmidt: “I like to call the hall a bullfighting arena because of the atmosphere. It’s actually a cattle auction hall.” Former national player Patrick Femerling, who is sitting next to him as an expert: “There’s going to be a commotion here today.”
Dyn is celebrating a premiere, showing all nine games of the last matchday in a conference, as we know it from the Bundesliga.
A man in a magician costume is standing in the stands. Schmidt laughs: “Maybe he can help.” Alba gets off to a strong start and takes a 5-0 lead.
3:34 p.m.: Heidelberg starts two minutes later. The Tigers’ first throw doesn’t go in — and Heidelberg coach Ingo Freyer clenches his fist outside.
3:54 p.m.: Heidelberg leads 26:18 against Tübingen, Bayern is ahead 31:22 against Rostock. And Crailsheim is behind 21:28, so would be further away.
3:58 p.m.: Attention! Crailsheim is only six points behind and is fighting its way back.
4:02 p.m.: Rostock is really getting a beating. After an 8-0 run, Bayern are leading 43-30 in the middle of the second quarter.
4:03 p.m.: Huge cheers in Crailsheim! Keandre Cook hits a three-pointer! 33:32! Now the Merlins have managed to stay in the league — and Rostock would be out of the running!
Foto: picture alliance / Eibner-Pressefoto, picture alliance / BEAUTIFUL SPORTS/Wunderl, picture alliance / nordphoto GmbH / Hafner, picture alliance / Pressefoto Ba
But Alba reacts — national player Jonas Mattisseck scores a three-pointer. And it’s 33:35 again from the hosts’ perspective. Crailsheim was only saved for 23 seconds…
4.16 p.m.: Halftime in Crailsheim. The score is 43:49. It could have been closer. But when Rene Kindzeka tries to make a layup, the halftime siren stops him. Dyn expert Femerling: “Oooch! The ball should have left my hand quicker.”
The teams are also heading to the dressing rooms in Munich. Bayern are ahead against Rostock with 52:37, so not much more will happen.
4.20 p.m.: Now it’s halftime in Heidelberg too. The score is 53:38. A look at the table shows: Rostock and the Academics would be saved, Crailsheim would have to go into the second league.
4.30 p.m.: Things are continuing on time in Crailsheim. Hope lives on! The atmosphere in the hall is still great!
4.34pm: Oops! Rostock is within two points of Munich! What’s going on here! Suddenly the score is only 55:53!
4.38 p.m.: Crailsheim is behind 53:63, Heidelberg is leading 56:38, Rostock is behind 55:63 after NBA star Serge Ibaka and Co. picked up the pace again for Bayern. Dyn commentator Schmidt: “Crailsheim have to step up their game! As things stand, they’ve been relegated. But there are still 15 minutes to play.”
4:51 p.m.: At the end of the third quarter, the score is only 70:75 from Crailsheim’s perspective. What a battle of nerves! The final quarter is already underway in Munich. Rostock is behind by a decisive 64:80 with eight minutes to go.
Dyn expert Femerling: “I’m curious whether the Rostock players on the bench know what the situation is elsewhere.” Commentator Schmidt: “I know coach Christian Held from his time in Trier. I’m 100 percent sure that the players don’t know anything about other results.”
Big names, few pointsAlba beats Bayern thanks to crazy 18-0 run
Those: TO THE MEDIA12.05.2024
4:58 p.m.: Hey! The Tigers are leading 60:71 in Heidelberg at the end of the third quarter.
5.06 p.m.: Game ends in Munich. Rostock loses 73:101 to Bayern. Dyn commentator Schmidt: “Now everyone’s getting their cell phones out and checking how things are going in Crailsheim. The Merlins are fighting for their lives there.”
5.10pm: Incredible! Crailsheim is up 82:86. Extreme excitement! Four minutes and 28 seconds left to play.
5.13 p.m.: Unbelievable! Crailsheim’s Leo Westermann plays a no-look pass! But teammate Borges doesn’t expect it. The ball sails out of bounds. A bitter loss of possession for the Merlins at 83:92 – two minutes and 49 seconds before the end.
5.17pm: There are still 67 seconds left to play in Crailsheim. The score is 83:98. The crowd is getting quieter. The fans know: We’ve been relegated.
5.21pm: Now it’s official! The game is over! Crailsheim has been relegated. After 2016, they will also be relegated in 2024. The Merlins lost against Alba 83:103.
5.27pm: The game is now over in Heidelberg too! 93:78 against relegated Tübingen. Huge cheers! We’ve managed to stay in the league!
Maurice Stuckey from Crailsheim, who left the hall crying after the game at Dyn: “It was a difficult, exhausting season. Unfortunately, in the end it wasn’t enough. That’s how sport is sometimes. You have to get up and carry on. There are many reasons, which we will analyze later.”
Heidelberg coach Ingo Freyer after the rescue at Dyn: “Over the last three years, I have taken over a team – and it always ended up being positive. Of course, I’m trying to find a location where I can develop something. We’ll see whether we can agree on this in Heidelberg. I’m enjoying the day today with all the fans.”
2024-05-12 07:00:00
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