The title candidates Bayern Munich and MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg slipped heavily in the BBL quarter-finals. Cup winners Munich lost 82:96 (35:54) to the Hakro Merlins Crailsheim and only leads 2-1 in the best-of-five series. Main round winner Ludwigsburg got under the wheels at 60:96 (35:60) at Brose Bamberg and also threw away the first chance to move into the play-off semi-finals in the third duel.
Bayern left Crailsheim far away with a weak performance in the first half, and coach Andrea Trinchieri’s team was unable to provide tension even after the break. Trae Bell-Haynes (34 points, nine assists) led the Merlins to their first victory despite eleven (!) Ball losses, at Bayern Wade Baldwin was the most successful (22 points).
Ludwigsburg, which won game two on Friday with a lot of effort (86:83), also slept through the first half and has the second match point on Tuesday (6.30 p.m. / Sport1 and MagentaSport).
Bamberg outgrew itself on Sunday with the threat of end in sight and especially hurt the guests from the triple line. 17 of 38 throws were in, the giants only sank four threes and had 17 ball losses.
Top scorer at Bamberg were national players Christian Sengfelder, Chase Fieler and Michele Vitali with 14 points each. In the disappointing Ludwigsburg, Tremmell Darden and Yorman Polas Bartolo got eleven points.
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