The good news for the Munich basketball players: Isaac Bonga, who injured his groin in the Bundesliga game in Bonn a week ago, was back in the squad against the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg on Sunday afternoon – and even in the starting lineup. The bad news: The world champion couldn’t find his rhythm. Three missed throws, two slips and he was back on the bench after four and a half minutes. He scored his first two of a total of four points in the third quarter. And all this under the eyes of national coach Gordon Herbert, who, like FC Bayern honorary president Uli Hoeneß and former FC Bayern coach Svetislav Pesic, found time for the game against the Swabians. When the Germans won the World Cup title in September, Pesic led the Serbs, who lost 77:83 in the final.
So there was no lack of prominence in this duel between Bayern and the Rand-Stuttgart team, which had been declared a family game day, and who had traveled to Munich-Sendling with some early praise: still undefeated away from home, after a mixed start with three successes in a row, fifth in the table. FC Bayern, on the other hand, had lost five of their last six games. But last Wednesday there was a slight upward trend in the Euroleague home win against Partizan Belgrade, as well as in Friday’s unfortunate 73:74 defeat in Kaunas.
The trend then solidified against Ludwigsburg: Bayern won the game 92:84 (39:27) in front of 6,500 spectators in the sold-out BMW Park and seem to have overcome their little crisis. Sylvain Francisco (20), Serge Ibaka (15) and Devin Booker (15) scored the most goals in a game that they dominated for long stretches. “We managed to stay in the game despite a few mistakes,” said coach Pablo Laso.
“We want to become German champions, but the results so far haven’t been good enough,” says Hoeneß
Hoeneß, who particularly loved Booker after the game, was also relieved: “They have been very committed in the last three games,” said the 71-year-old, praising the atmosphere and the mood: “Every game is sold out.” But he also saw weaknesses: “We have a lot of good individuals, but not a well-coordinated team yet. That’s also because we have a lot of injuries,” explained Hoeneß and went into detail: “We still have problems with the distance throws. In We clearly have to improve in this area. We want to become German champions, and the results so far haven’t been good enough.”
That 73:74 defeat on Friday in front of 15,000 spectators in the sold-out Zalgirio Arena didn’t hurt him that much. Nine seconds before the end, the Lithuanians sank their last three-pointer to win in a game on equal terms. But Bayern played a good game.
Open detailed view
On Friday, Niels Giffey (left) and his Bayern lost out against Zalgiris Kaunas (Arnas Butkevicius on the ball) in front of 15,000 spectators in Lithuania. In a heart-stopping final they lost 73:74.
(Photo: Rokas Lukosevicius/Scanpix/Imago)
What will be crucial this season, with its at least 80 match days, will be to find a sensible balance between international and national competition, between stress and relief. Especially when important players are missing, like Andreas Obst and Vladimir Lucic. Hoeneß said that Bayern were also suffering because Obst, Bonga and Niels Giffey, Bayern’s three world champions, “reached their performance limits at the World Cup and had no vacation. That’s why the injuries have come now. If Andi Obst like that There are reasons for that, as few three-pointers are hit as before.”
The Munich team still found the balance against Ludwigsburg, they led 18:7, then 27:11 – and after a spectacular dunking by Nick Weiler-Babb 39:27 at halftime. After the break, both clubs engaged in a lively scoring competition, and Munich’s victory was never in serious danger. The game showed that Ibaka is increasingly finding his rhythm – it also proved that a creative, fast player like Francisco is good for the team. And she demonstrated that returnee Devin Booker, with his massive body, is also suitable as a key player.
Bayern have their next game on Thursday, and the Euroleague continues in Lyon-Villeurbanne. But first they have a day off: “It helps us a lot,” said Coach Laso.
