Status: 19.03.2024 | Reading time: 2 minutes
Berlin’s Matt Thomas (l) and Ulm’s Thomas Klepeisz in action.
Source: Daniel Löb/dpa
The bottom team from the German capital almost brought down the defending champions. Alba only had to admit defeat in the last two minutes.
The basketball players from Alba Berlin narrowly missed a big surprise in the Euroleague. Despite a strong performance, the bottom team in the premier class lost to defending champion and league leader Real Madrid 79:86 (40:36) at home in front of 11,420 spectators. For the Berliners it was the 25th defeat in the 30th game. The best Berlin throwers were Matt Thomas with 16 and world champion Johannes Thiemann with 14 points.
Coach Israel Gonzalez’s team was wide awake from the start and quickly took a 9-2 lead. The Madrilenians hardly scored anything at first, even when the hosts repeatedly allowed them offensive rebounds. Alba’s lead reached double digits in the first quarter (17:7).
But in the second half, Real’s star ensemble woke up, defended more intensively and made life more difficult for Alba. The Berliners only managed two points for around four minutes. And after a 2:14 run they were suddenly behind (28:30). But they didn’t break down now, but struck back immediately – because the intensity was right. Alba was able to maintain a small lead until the break.
And even after the break they came out of the locker room better, went on an 11-2 run and pulled away again. But Real responded promptly with an 18:3 run and took the lead themselves (56:54). Now the lead changed back and forth and it remained close. Two minutes before the end, Martin Hermannsson equalized to make it 77:77. But Real had better nerves in the final spurt.
2024-03-19 21:04:42
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