Chemnitz – It wasn’t enough to win against a EuroLeague team again! After the two defeats against Bayern Munich, the Niners Chemnitz had to admit defeat to the Alba Berlin team for the second time this season in their home stadium on Sunday evening. The eleven-time champion won undeservedly with 84:79 (39:35)
Alba player Johannes Thiemann flies to the basket: The Niners were unable to prevail against the EuroLeague team from Berlin on Sunday evening. © IMAGO / Alexander Trienitz
What a thrilling first quarter it was? Both teams gave each other nothing, fought for every inch, and had a few verbal skirmishes. That was hard work for the referee team, who had to make the first tricky decision after just under four minutes.
In wrestling style, 2.21 meter giant Khalifa Koumadje placed center Jonas Richter under the Chemnitz basket. The Berliner was suspended for four BBL games after an assault against Göttingen’s Bodie Hume in February and was back in the top game for the first time.
After 3:58 minutes, Koumadje had to leave the floor and the hall. The giant from Chad received a disqualifying foul from the referees.
Niners Chemnitz Niners captain Richter raves about top scorer Yebo: “This guy is crazy!”
The Pastore team used the momentum and took the biggest lead in the first half at 18:10 (7th). It was gone at the beginning of the second section. At Richter & Co. suddenly nothing worked anymore. Alba pushed up the pace, grabbed the lead with a 12-0 run and moved ahead to 35:26 (18th).
In the last two and a half minutes of the thrilling and intense first half, the Niners finally made threes. And three times in a row. The deficit at halftime (35:39) was therefore limited.
“We have to play our game again,” demanded Richter during the break in the DYN interview. The Saxons couldn’t really do that. Berlin led 55:46 (27th). Pastore took the timeout and demanded: “Play less one-on-one, move the ball!” Before the last quarter it was 63:56 for Alba.
Will Chemnitz get the curve again? That’s what the 5,000 fans in the packed trade fair asked themselves. She couldn’t stay on the seats anymore. The Niners equalized with DeAndre Lansdowne’s long-range throw (65:65/35th). They didn’t take the lead.
20 seconds before the end, Aher Uguak shortened the score to 79:80 and ensured a heart-stopping finale. There was no happy ending from the Saxons’ perspective. The EuroLeague team stayed cool and took the points with them to the capital.
The best Niners throwers were Jeff Garrett (15 points) and Kevin Yebo (14).
2024-03-24 18:30:00
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