On Tuesday, both German teams were in action in the Euroleague with Alba and Bayern. The Berliners did a really good job in Istanbul and won 66:57, the Munich team suffered a defeat. Ulm, on the other hand, had no chance in the Eurocup.
Alba Berlin celebrates victory in Istanbul
IMAGO / Seskim Photo
Alba Berlin kept its chances of reaching the play-offs in the Euroleague. Two days after the tired 64:81 defeat in the Bundesliga against Chemnitz, the heavily weakened capital city team won 66:57 (37:27) at Fenerbahce Istanbul and with the twelfth win in the 26th game they are keeping up with eighth place, the enough for the playoffs. Yovel Zoosman was the most successful thrower in Berlin with 20 points.
Alba had to replace four players in Istanbul. In addition to the long-term injuries Marcus Eriksson and Louis Olinde, there were two more corona cases in captain Luke Sikma and Tamir Blatt. The Berliners got off to a bad start and were quickly 0:7 behind. It was only after almost three minutes that Ben Lammers scored the first points. A total of six turnovers in the first quarter initially prevented them from catching up, before Zoosman was successful three times in three attempts from the three-man line and Alba went into the quarter-break only three points behind at 16:19.
More concentrated than in the first ten minutes, Alba defended better against the hosts and scored quick points with a 27:4 run and a 37:23 lead after 18 minutes. After the change of ends, both teams neutralized each other and only allowed the opponent two points each until the 25th minute. But thanks to two more threes from Zoosman, Alba was able to extend the lead to 44:31 and went into the last quarter with a ten-point lead (48:38). The hosts braced themselves against the impending defeat with quick points, but Alba held out well until the end in a heated atmosphere.
Bayern loses in Milan
The basketball players of FC Bayern Munich delivered a courageous performance against Armani Milan in the Euroleague on Tuesday, but ultimately lost 77:84 (36:33). The Bundesliga side conceded their third defeat in a row in the European Cup. The best Munich thrower was Vladimir Lucic (26 points).
Bayern played defensively in the repeat of last year’s playoff quarter-finals: they had only conceded five points after six minutes, and Milan didn’t score any points in the first four minutes of the second quarter. The Munich team weren’t quite as convincing in attack, but were still in the lead by 36:33 at the break.
In the third quarter, the guests lost their rhythm, after a 14:23 they went into the final section with a six-point deficit. There Bayern were always successful from a distance and came back to within one point. But in the closing stages, Milan pulled away decisively with a 6-0 run.
Despite the defeat, the Munich team is still in eighth place with a record of 12:12 wins. Behind them is Alba Berlin, the second German Euroleague representative.
Ulm clearly loses without four regular players
Meanwhile, Ratiopharm Ulm suffered a clear home defeat in the Eurocup: On Tuesday, the Bundesliga club lost to the Turkish club Frutti Extra Bursaspor 72:86 (34:53). Ulm’s coach Jaka Lakovic had to do without four regular players.
Ulm made a 3:16 false start and was already two-digit behind after just four minutes. While the Swabians had to work hard for their degrees, the guests kept throwing open shots near the basket and after quick attacks. Thanks to Semaj Christon, Ulm’s best with 20 points, the hosts were able to balance the second quarter, but were still 34:53 behind at the break. In the second half, Ulm didn’t get any closer than 13 points.
Despite the defeat, Ulm had already qualified for the round of 16 of the Eurocup before the game. The last preliminary round game is on April 5th, then the Swabians will visit Valencia.
Fenerbahce Istanbul – Alba Berlin 57:66 (27:37)
Best pitchers for Istanbul: Mahmutoglu (16)
Best throwers for Berlin: Zoosman (20), Smith (14) for Berlin
Armani Milan – Bayern Munich 84:77 (33:36)
Best pitchers for Milan: Shields (22), Melli (11), Hall (11)
Best pitchers for Munich: Lucic (26), Jaramaz (14), Hilliard (11)
ratiopharm Ulm – Bursaspor Basketball 72:86 (15:32)
Best pitchers for Ulm: Christon (20), Blossomgame (14), Jallow (12), Bretzel (10)
Best pitchers for Bursaspor: Hayes (25), Dudzinski (14), Needham (13), Bitim (12), Andrews (11)
