Ludwigsburg. No team training for two weeks, no competitive game for two weeks, even affected by corona, therefore in quarantine at home: the first few weeks of the new year could hardly have been worse for Johannes Thiemann. Although the former center of the MHP giants Ludwigsburg only showed “mild symptoms”, as he says, he was still excluded from playing. As did the rest of the Berlin team, which after positive corona tests initially had to postpone two BBL games (against Braunschweig and Gießen), and in between the Europa League game against Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Only on Tuesday of this week did Alba Berlin start again internationally. The games in Milan (76:84) and on Thursday against Real Madrid (74:89) were lost, but Thiemann still saw his colleagues in good shape after the long break. “Even if we still lacked the strength a bit, we played very well at times,” summed up the national player, who was not yet in the squad himself, optimistically. Thiemann wants to get back into action on Sunday.
Johannes Thiemann, who was under contract with the MHP giants for two seasons between 2016 and 2018, is now a fixture in Berlin. Under coach icon Aíto García Reneses, the native of Trier matured into a national team player. The game system of Renese’s successor Israel González also suits the variable wing/center player. “They live a similar philosophy,” said the 27-year-old, who has been joined by another former Ludwigsburg player since the start of the season: Jaleen Smith.
According to Thiemann, the point guard certainly has a different role in Berlin than in Ludwigsburg, where he grew from a BBL rookie to an undisputed leading player within two seasons. “We have a lot of players who are leaders on the field,” says Thiemann, but Jaleen has settled in well after initial difficulties.
John Patrick also knows that the German cup winner from the federal capital forms a complete and strong ensemble despite Corona. “Two weeks of training and a lack of match practice hurt, of course,” says the coach of the MHP giants, “but Berlin is a well-rehearsed team and always has a high quality and enormous creativity.”
Especially Maodo Lo, three-man specialist Tamir Blatt and of course Marcus Eriksson, who was recently injured, are real house numbers in the Berlin 17 squad. “It’s their third game in six days, but they’ll be there,” said Patrick. Thiemann promises the same: “It’s always a huge challenge against Ludwigsburg, but we have our own claim in the league and will certainly not give the game away.”
Jacob Patrick and Darden present
When it comes to his own claims, John Patrick is by no means modest either. “Actually, we wanted to fly,” says the coach, “but we have to be very careful because of the pandemic.” That’s why his team travels to the capital by bus on Saturday. Patrick will be able to draw on his full squad. Only his son Jacob, who recently scored 14 points (3 threes) in Oldenburg, is a bit stricken. During training, the coach-filius got an elbow hit to the head and suffered a slight concussion. Tremmel Darden, who had to leave the field against Oldenburg, will also be back.
One can look forward to the appearance of Thiemann counterpart Ethan Happ in Berlin. The new center has integrated well and will also appear – although without playing practice for a long time and a little fitness deficit. “He finds his role, but still has to orientate himself in this athletic league and improve in the 5 vs. 5 game,” says Patrick. Unlike in Ludwigsburg, where only 750 spectators are allowed, there will be 2,000 fans in the Berlin Arena, which has a capacity of 16,000. “That’s cool,” says Patrick, looking forward to the game.
