At Alba Berlin, nervousness is increasing

Berlin. The jokers among the fans of the German basketball champion Alba Berlin take it with humor. At least in the Internet forum “Schoenen Dunk”. There someone recommended to Euroleague rivals Baskonia Vitoria that Alba sports director Himar Ojeda should be signed straight away. In this way, the financially strong Spanish club could save the money and effort of buying away all those players whom the manager had just convinced to move to Berlin.

Now only Ojeda himself knows whether he has long since received such an offer, although he is still under contract in the German capital until 2023. The fact is that the Basques are showing an increased interest in Alba professionals. A year ago, the Lithuanian Rokas Giedraitis (28) moved to Vitoria, followed a few weeks ago by the Italian Simone Fontecchio (25). In both cases, the four-time Spanish champion had to transfer six-figure sums to buy these players from current contracts. Things are different with Jayson Granger.

Jayson Granger couldn’t hold Alba Berlin

The Uruguayan (31) had only signed with Alba for one season. He previously wore the Baskonia jersey but struggled with injuries for two years. That is why a German club was able to sign him for a manageable salary at all. Granger paid it back with performance, was the most valuable player in the final series of the German championship – and then again priceless for Alba. He averaged 11.8 points and 5.5 assists in the finals against Munich.

“Jayson played a key role in this year’s championship,” said Ojeda as he left, “but it was also clear that he would receive many offers after this strong season. I’m glad we were able to work with him this year. ”Granger wrote that he thanked him for the“ incredible ten months. You made my dream come true and gave me the joy of being able to play basketball again. ”

In the Basque Country he should now direct the game with hot spur Wade Baldwin, previously Bayern Munich. Who will do that in Berlin? That is the question that is becoming more and more urgent. Granger gone, Peyton Siva moves to New Zealand after five years in Alba. “We’re focusing on Maodo Lo,” says Ojeda, but the German international is reluctant to promise to extend his contract. He prefers to concentrate on his participation in the Olympic Games with the national team.

Tamir Blatt fits in with Alba Berlin

So far, only Tamir Blatt (24) has been confirmed as a pure playmaker in the Alba squad. The Israeli had a strong last season at Hapoel Jerusalem. It fits in Berlin. To put the main responsibility for the game of a Euroleague team on him would be asking too much. This is all the more true for Stefan Peno (23), who was loaned to Rasta Vechta after a serious knee injury, but also had problems gaining a foothold there. In the current squad on the club’s homepage, he is not even listed – despite the contract.

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The fact that so much is unexplained in this king’s position makes the club’s appendage nervous. Especially since on the loss side, alongside Siva, Granger and Fontecchio, there is another high performer in captain Niels Giffey (30 / after Kaunas). There are still no real accesses. It’s complicated. Ojeda is working on it. In order to end the unrest, he will soon have to announce a success message. Otherwise the fun will stop at some point.

Read more about Alba Berlin here.