The match of the century for basketball players from Crailsheim

Martin Romig is seldom lacking in pithy words. “This is now a David versus Goliath situation. The role of favorites is clear. We come with a 45 magnum and face a company with Stalin organs,” says the managing director of Hakro Merlins Crailsheim with regard to the playoffs starting next Wednesday. “From our point of view, this is the pairing of centuries in the quarter-finals.” The opponent was determined last Tuesday and is called FC Bayern Munich.

Both teams made history this season. The Munich team was the first German team to enter the playoffs of the Euroleague, the most important European basketball competition. The Crailsheimers played the best main round in the club’s history and are playing BBL playoffs for the first time. “It’s definitely cool, cooler than playing against Berlin,” says Romig. Against Alba, the Merlins didn’t look good in either of the main round games. The sporting director Ingo Enskat had already declared the Berliners to be feared opponents a long time ago. “When I look at the possible opponents, we’re all outsiders against all of us,” said Enskat. “Then why shouldn’t we play against Munich right away?”

Munich challenged in the Cup Final Four at the weekend

At least the first leg in Munich won the Crailsheimers, the second leg was then just lost. “We know our options,” says Romig. “It will be important that we don’t allow too much to be taken away from us.” While the Crailsheimers still have until Wednesday to prepare for the best-of-five series, the Munich-based team will still have the final four of the cup on the weekend. And already in the last main round games they showed a certain tiredness. The freshness could be a small advantage for Crailsheim. However, the Merlins go into the playoffs with a decimated squad, as the long-term injuries Haywood Highsmith, Tim Coleman and Jermaine Haley do not come back. With a small rotation, the series of games every two days will be a mammoth program.

Important personal details have been clarified

While the sports management around Enskat and the outgoing coach Tuomas Iisalo are currently looking at the games against Munich, Romig is working in the background. Most recently, he was able to announce two important personalities for next season: First, Bogdan Radosavljevic signed a three-year contract. In addition, Maurice Stuckey extended another important pillar of the team for two years. In addition, Aleksa Kovacevic and Dejan Kovacevic still have contracts for the next round.

“It was just right with Moe, actually right from the start, since he moved to us from Bamberg last season. He has integrated directly into the team, is always an energizer, whether in the starting line-up or from the bench, and one too A player with whom you automatically get excited because of his commitment as a fan, “says Enskat. “You just want him to pull it off, not just because he’s a Merlin, but also because it’s Moe. I don’t think you can give a player a much bigger compliment.”

Stuckey has settled in excellently in Crailsheim

With 334 Bundesliga appearances, Stuckey is one of the most experienced German players in the BBL. After moving from Bamberg to Crailsheim, the 1.87 meter tall three-man specialist developed into a leader. This season he is co-captain and an important person next to the floor.

“I have settled in excellently in Crailsheim, and was very well received by the entire organization and the fans. I feel that I am in ideal hands here, both in terms of the family aspect and the sporting component,” says Stuckey. “We have already had a lot of great moments together and I look forward to being part of this success story in the next two years as well.” And who knows how this season’s story will end.

The next games

The Merlins Crailsheim will have their first game against Bayern Munich in the Audi Dome on Wednesday at 8.30 p.m. The second away game will take place on Friday at 7 p.m., before the first playoff home game in the club’s history on Sunday, May 23 at 6 p.m. If there is a game four, it will be played again in the Arena Hohenlohe – on May 25th. A possible play-off (May 27) would then take place again in Munich.