The Swans Gmunden are in the final of the men’s basketball championship for the fifth time in a row and for the 14th time in total. They defeated the Flyers Wels on Thursday in the all-important game of the semifinals with 100:81 (46:29). The “best of five” series went to the cup winner with a score of 3:2. Already on Saturday (8.15 p.m., live on ORF Sport +) the first duel with defending champion BC Vienna in the final series will take place at Traunsee.
In the sold-out sports hall in Gmunden with almost 1,600 fans, the hosts took the lead with 10:8 in the sixth minute, which they were then unable to give up. For the first time, the Swans were two digits ahead at 32:22, before the break the plus grew to 19 points (46:27). After the break, the five-time champion controlled the game. Gmunden Wels didn’t get any closer than 63:53 (29 th ).
The outstanding Swans player was captain Daniel Friedrich: 33 points meant a career record for the guard. Urald King, who was named Superliga MVP, contributed a double-double from 18 points and 15 rebounds.
Von Fintel spent more than 200 minutes in the semifinals
In the end, 210 minutes of play were required, after two extra-time periods, in order to determine Vienna’s opponent in the final of the prestigious Upper Austrian meeting. Christian Von Fintel excelled as a “marathon man”. In the five games, the Wels captain only missed the last 1:46 minutes of what was happening on the floor.
His team failed on Thursday not only because of strong swans, but also because of a weak result from a distance. Only four of 19 three-point attempts by the Flyers (13 of 29 at Gmunden) found their target.
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