Alba Berlin
Alba Berlin’s first home win against Maccabi in 25 years
Hard fight for the ball between Berliners Luke Sikma (back) and Maodo Lo with Maccabi’s Keenan Evans.
Photo: nordphoto GmbH / Engler / picture alliance / nordphoto GmbH / Engler
Alba Berlin defeated Maccabi Tel Aviv at home in the Euroleague Basketball – for the first time since the 1996/97 season.
Berlin. Alba Berlin fans had to wait almost 25 years for this evening. Since the 1996/97 season, exactly since January 9, 1997, the Berliners have not won against Maccabi Tel Aviv in their own hall. But on Thursday evening the time had come: In front of around 4,000 spectators, including 1,000 Maccabi fans, the German champions won 91:86 (45:35). In a total of 17th comparison, it was only the third success for Alba. The hosts’ best throwers were Marcus Eriksson (19 points) and Christ Koumadje (12).
Alba player and coach Israel Gonzalez have sworn it more than once: on a good day you are able to beat any opponent. If they perform like they did this evening, that is certainly true. Not a single one stood out on the offensive, the entire team defended with concentration. Oscar da Silva shone early with three ball wins. And Maccabi was impressed.
At Alba Berlin, the whole team was convincing
The Berliners presented themselves very variably in the attack. Sometimes Maodo Lo met from different positions, sometimes Johannes Thiemann calmly transformed two threesomes. A small head start after the first quarter was the wages. And when the guests seemed about to take command, Gonzalez brought his 2.21-meter giant Christ Koumadje.
The man from Chad changed what was happening under both baskets – in Alba’s favor. He had eight points at halftime, without a miss, and he converted both free throws. And so Israel’s serial master had a strong need to speak in the cabin. Going into the dressing room ten points behind did not suit the six-time winner in the top class of basketball at all.
Alba Berlin always finds answers
He responded with threesomes, through Scottie Wilbekin (22 points) and Derrick Williams (15). Berlin countered with Sikma and Eriksson. Maccabi came up to four or five points several times in the second half, but the hosts always had answers. The Israelis from the Alba side, Yovel Zoosman and Tamir Blatt, each with two three-pointers, were particularly happy about the success.
Zoosman responded particularly emotionally, because his mother and sister had come to the Mercedes-Benz Arena especially from Israel. They experienced a great moment in the history of Alba Berlin.
Read more about Alba Berlin here.
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