Alba is hoping for Fontecchio’s return in the top game against Ulm

Berlin. The tension was evident in him. Simone Fontecchio sat on the bench in Alba Berlin between Johannes Thiemann and Tim Schneider, cheered and jumped up when one of his team’s actions was successful. The Italian, who has been wearing the jersey of the German champions since this season, was not allowed to do more. He has just recovered from an ankle injury, was allowed to be in the squad for the first time since the end of November on Thursday, but only watched the 69:92 in the basketball Euroleague at Panathinaikos Athens as a spectator.

Alba Berlin is still hesitant to use Fontecchio

“Normally,” explains Alba sporting director Himar Ojeda, “if a player like this takes part in one or two real training sessions, then you can use him again.” The only problem is: “We are currently not training. It’s difficult to integrate Simone. ”The team travels all over Europe, from game to game. So Fontecchio has not been able to do more than a common warm-up or a throw-in. “Doctors say his ankle is stable. But to bring him in the first game right now, without knowing exactly whether he is ready, would be too dangerous, ”said Ojeda.

The team of coach Aito Garcia Renese’s refreshment would do well. The tiredness of the Berliners at the third game within five days was palpable. Fontecchio is the player who has survived his ankle injury best. It is quite possible that he will be allowed a few minutes on the field against Ulm this Saturday (6 p.m., Magentasport). Swede Marcus Eriksson is expected to be the next to return to the team, maybe in early or mid-January. “It’s worst with Ben,” says Ojeda. Target date at Center Ben Lammers, who like the other two injured his ankle: the end of January.

Alba Berlin’s next opponent Ulm is very dangerous

Especially in the Bundesliga duel with Ulm, second in the table, it would be very helpful to have one more man on board. The Swabians are in a good mood and have all won their five games in the BBL. Although they missed the intermediate round of the Eurocup, they also won 94:90 in their last group game on Wednesday at Unicaja Malaga. The Spaniards certainly did not lose voluntarily, because they would have preferred to keep their first place in order to have easier opponents in the next round. In the game before that, Ulm won in Hamburg. The Towers were also unbeaten before.

“The momentum is definitely with them, they are dangerous”, Ojeda looks ahead somewhat skeptically. Especially since the South German team is complete with the return of Thomas Klepeisz and Dylan Osetkowski – unlike their opponents. On the other hand, Alba has always managed to develop new energy in a short time. Himar Ojeda laughs: “We knew that December would be tough.” And January. And the whole season.

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