A fabulous final spurt ensures Alba Berlin’s victory in the top game
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Nothing is allowed anymore: Martin Hermannsson, Johannes Thiemann and Anton Nufer (from left)
Quelle: dpa/Andreas Gora
Just five days after the clear defeat in Munich, Alba Berlin successfully took revenge on FC Bayern. This means that the Berliners will still go into the playoffs as second in the table. However, it took an incredible final few minutes.
Alba Berlin achieved its first win against the FC Bayern Munich basketball team at the fourth attempt this season. Five days after the 53:77 away defeat, the Berliners won 59:53 (30:28) at home on Friday and ended the game with an 18:0 run. Despite the defeat, Bayern remain leaders in the Bundesliga and will always have the home advantage in the upcoming playoffs; Berlin will go into the finals in second place.
As in the first leg, Munich’s defense was extremely good: the Berliners only hit one of their first eleven throws from the field and had only scored three points after seven minutes. The game changed with the reserves: the home side reduced the lead to 12:17 at the end of the quarter, defended more strongly in the second half and went into the locker room with a 30:28 lead.
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After the break, a hard-fought game continued. Bayern found a rhythm, hit their three-pointers and went on an 11-0 run to take the lead to 48:37. In the final period, the Berliners gained the momentum, Martin Hermannsson gave Berlin their first lead since the middle of the third half with a three-pointer a minute and a half before the end of the game.
The hosts didn’t allow any points in the last six and a half minutes and decided the game with an 18-0 run.
Over the moon: Alba Berlin’s fans celebrated a victory that was no longer thought possible
Quelle: dpa/Andreas Gora
After the Berliners set a negative record in this BBL season with 53 points in the last meeting, Bayern have now equaled it. With just eleven points, Berlin’s Sterling Brown became the best thrower of the game.
Livingston voted MVP
Before the duel, the BBL’s MVP was announced. However, Otis Livingston II does not play for either of the two big rivals, but for the Würzburg Baskets. The 27-year-old playmaker won the voting among captains, assistant coaches and media representatives with 52 percent of the votes, as the BBL announced. Tommy Kuhse from newly promoted Rasta Vechta (25 percent) and Kevin Yebo from Fiba Europe Cup winners Niners Chemnitz (23 percent) came in second and third place.
Livingston previously played in the Bundesliga for Crailsheim and Bayreuth and came to Main last summer. “This recognition means a lot to me. Our coaches, my teammates and I have worked hard for this, it is also a success for the whole team,” said Livingston. He is the first Würzburg professional to receive the award in the history of the league.
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Würzburg’s sports manager Kresimir Loncar said: “Otis is clearly the best player of this BBL season.” The Franconians reached the playoffs early.
