The most difficult task in German basketball awaits the Syntainics MBC on Saturday (4 p.m. SPORT IM EAST, live stream and ticker): The reigning champions and cup winners FC Bayern Munich are coming to Weißenfels. Nevertheless, the MBC senses its chance after its recent successes.
The MBC achieved its first win of the season against Frankfurt on the last matchday after three opening defeats (79:69). Afterwards, head coach Janis Gailitis’ team followed up in the round of 16 of the cup against Ludwigsburg (85:77).
MBC welcomes Bayern with a big heart
The Wolves will welcome champions and cup winners Bayern Munich on Saturday with a correspondingly broad chest, although the MBC is still waiting for its first home win of the season. “We come against Bayern with a lot of self-confidence. We won the cup, we won a very important game in Frankfurt before that and now we just want to continue to do good things, especially the right steps,” hopes MBC-Sommer- New signing Akeem Vargas. The 34-year-old made his debut in the Basketball Bundesliga 14 years ago with the Alba Berlin team and is now hunting for baskets for Weißenfels.
Wolves in their best lineup
Head coach Janis Gailitis will most likely be able to rely on his best players. In Wolves top scorer Spencer Reaves and world champion Andreas Obst from Halle on the Munich side, two of the best three-point shooters in the league face each other.
Jhonathan Dunn (left/MBC and Bavaria’s Andreas Obst in February. At that time, the MBC lost out in Weißenfels with 86:116
John Bryant will also face his former club (2013 to 2016), with whom he won the championship in 2014.
MBC center John Bryant meets his former club on Saturday
Bavaria’s constant stress an MBC advantage?
What also gives the MBC hope for the chance of an outsider coup is the multiple burden on the Munich team. Saturday’s game will be FCB’s third in just five days. On Tuesday evening they were guests of Partizan Belgrade in the Euroleague (78:86 defeat), and on Thursday they hosted Paris Basketball. Despite a strong and large squad, the program to be completed is unlikely to leave its mark on the top performers.
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