Ratiopharm Ulm faces FC Bayern Basketball in Highly Anticipated Clash

On the occasion of the top game on the eleventh matchday of the easyCredit BBL, Ratiopharm Ulm will face FC Bayern Basketball away from home. It is the clash between the reigning German champions and the cup winners. Tip-off is at 3 p.m.

Photo: PM BBU

The team around the preserved master core is returning for the first time to the place where last season’s basketball fairytale took shape. Everyone from Ulm probably looks back fondly on the two most recent guest games in Munich, in which the team laid the foundation for the championship. “Looking back, the two victories in Munich were an absolute crucial point in our success, which strengthened our belief in it. The fans turned the two games there into home games, that was incredible,” the young playmaker Juan Núñez remembered with great joy. As beautiful as the journey into the past is, the focus is on the future. The Ulm team have already demonstrated spectacular and successful basketball this season and are aiming for their ninth win in their eleventh league game against the EuroLeague participants. With the recent successes in Chemnitz and against Gran Canaria behind them, which ended an impressive winning streak, the team travels to the BMW Park with self-confidence: “After the two defeats, we were aware that we had to improve in the upcoming games and this is ours successful from the away game in Trento. Now the next difficult task awaits, especially given the history of the past season. We want to build on Tuesday’s performance and give everything we’ve got,” said head coach Anton Gavel.

Offensive power meets a solid defensive structure

Munich-born Karim Jallow, who was trained in FC Bayern Basketball’s junior ranks and grew up to become a professional, is currently Ulm’s top scorer with 16.8 points (career best). With 92.7 points, the entire team has the second best offense in terms of points, and also distributes 23.4 assists (league best). Bayern are a little more minimalist when it comes to scoring, averaging 86.4 (11th place). However, the defense is rock solid for long stretches, allowing the third fewest points with 78.3. The ring protector duo of Serge Ibaka (1.0) and Danko Brankovic (0.6) change or block many throw attempts with their presence under the basket. World champion Isaac Bonga is also considered an elite defender and puts up strong 0.5 blocks as a winger. Overall, Munich is in the top five in the category with 3.0 blocks.

BMW Park as a victorious fortress

Pablo Laso’s team has won nine out of ten games on home soil in all competitions so far. The last home defeat was against Fenerbahce Istanbul on October 27th. In the EuroLeague, the team led by former NBA champion Serge Ibaka recently defeated teams like Partizan Belgrade (94:85), Bologna (90:76) and Milan (91:84). After the two away defeats in a row against Braunschweig and Bonn, the form curve is pointing upwards again nationally. There was one win each against Ludwigsburg and Vechta and a few days ago they took revenge in Bonn and moved into the TOP-FOUR. In addition to the Spanish superstar Ibaka (13.0 points), the scoring is shared by another newcomer: point guard Sylvain Francisco also has 13 points and also records 4.0 assists. The guard rotation is not only deep but also of excellent quality with Andreas Obst (12.5 points), Carsen Edwards (11.6), and Leandro Bolmaro (8.5). Defensive specialist Nick Weiler-Babb should also be mentioned, who, in addition to having quick hands on defense (1.1 steals), can also be hot offensively.

Head Coach Anton Gavel: “Against a deep team like Munich, it is difficult to know who will ultimately appear and play. In the BBL they rotate a lot, so it is hardly possible to prepare personnel and assess what to expect. It was a matter of time before the new arrivals found each other and got into better shape. Some injured players are available again and the new additions have found their roles. There are easier tasks than facing a EuroLeague opponent in their hall. To be successful, we must first and foremost act physically. We have to believe in ourselves as we have in the past games and it will be important that we defend aggressively and defend physically.”

2023-12-17 07:53:29
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