Alba hot for playoff start against Bamberg: “Great feeling”

Berlin. Alba Berlin is going into the playoffs of the basketball Bundesliga with a lot of self-confidence and anticipation. “It’s a great feeling. You’ve been waiting for it all season and we’re ready to play now,” said winger Louis Olinde. On Friday, the Berliners will start in the quarter-finals in the best-of-five series at home against Brose Bamberg (7 p.m. / Magentasport).

Alba goes into the duel as the clear favorite as the leader of the table. “It’s important to win the home games and then close the series as quickly as possible,” said national player Johannes Thiemann. The focus is therefore initially only on the opening game. “Obviously that sets the tone for the whole series,” said Olinde.

A win in the opening round would therefore be very important. Olinde also relies on the psychological effect. “If you realize in the first game that nothing works, then the other team starts to think.” Coach Israel Gonzalez doesn’t want to exaggerate that. “Obviously the team that wins the first game has a tactical advantage. But in the end it doesn’t mean anything, you have to win three games,” said the Spaniard.

Even if Bamberg is only eighth in the playoffs, the Franconians should not be underestimated. Because Bamberg has won five of their last six games. Ironically, against Alba there was the only defeat. “Definitely one of the hottest teams in the league. But we were still the hottest team in the league at the back,” said Thiemann. Because Alba even won the last eleven games. “If we play our game with confidence then hopefully we shouldn’t have any big problems,” said Olinde.

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