European Cup winners Niners Chemnitz have gotten back on track in the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL). The surprise team had lost both games in the league since triumphing in the FIBA Europe Cup, but now achieved an 85:79 (44:39) win at Veolia Towers Hamburg.
The Niners thus consolidated third place, while the tenth-place team from Hamburg lost important points in the fight for the play-in places. The Niners went on a 9-0 run to pull ahead 65-48 midway through the third quarter.
Chemnitz’ van Beck with 25 points
But Hamburg got within three points in the final quarter, but couldn’t get past them. The guests’ best thrower was Wesley van Beck (25 points), the Towers could rely on Brae Ivey (15).
Meanwhile, champion ratiopharm Ulm defeated MLP Academics Heidelberg 73:57 (42:31) and continues to have the home advantage in the playoffs. Ulm is currently in fifth place.
No decisions in the table cellar
Heidelberg, on the other hand, missed the chance to seal the final relegation of bottom team Tigers Tübingen, who had previously lost 63:79 (28:42) at EWE Baskets Oldenburg, with a win. Since also the table 17th. Hakro Merlins Crailsheim lost against Bamberg Baskets (82:109), all decisions in the table cellar were postponed.
