The Veolia Towers Hamburg dropped an 89-83 decision to reigning German champions ALBA Berlin in a hard-fought preseason test played in the German capital, according to match reports from the club. Despite mounting a late fourth-quarter charge and getting 15 points from top-scorer Noah Thomasson, Hamburg could not fully overcome a double-digit deficit built by the hosts after halftime.
Early Lead slips in Berlin
Perimeter Firepower Sparks Fast Start
Playing away from home, Hamburg entered the contest on the offensive.
Mathys Kangudia opened the scoring with a quick three-pointer, and Kenneth Ogbe soon added another long-range shot to put early pressure on the reigning champions. ALBA Berlin struggled initially to find an offensive rhythm, though the home side gradually settled in to trade leads with the visitors through a brisk opening period.
Second-Quarter Surge Punishes Turnovers
The momentum shifted decisively after the quarter break when ALBA Berlin opened up a double-digit advantage. The hosts tightened their defensive stance under the basket and capitalized consistently on second-chance opportunities. Hamburg fought back with active perimeter defense, yet persistent turnovers hindered any sustained comeback effort before halftime, leaving the visiting squad facing a 55-43 deficit at the intermission.
Rotations Tested Without Key Players
Benka Barloschky managed the rotation without several key contributors, playing without Martin Breunig, Zakai Zeigler, Emil Marshall, and David Muenkat, who was away on international duty. In their absence, the squad relied on depth and heavy minutes from their rotation pieces. After the break, Hamburg steadily chipped away at the margin, but Berlin maintained control. Former Hamburg captain Benedikt Turudic anchored the Berlin effort, punishing minor defensive lapses by the visitors to keep the gap out of reach as the score moved to 73-62 entering the final frame.
Late Rally Falls Short in Preseason Test
A frantic late-game press orchestrated by Hamburg produced baskets from Thomasson and Kangudia, but the final push arrived too late to alter the outcome.
Alongside Thomasson’s 15 points, Kangudia added 13 points, while Johnson contributed 10 points and seven rebounds. The defeat marks Hamburg’s fourth outing of their current preseason schedule.
Worth a look
