FC Bayern Basketball secured a tense 86-84 victory over Hapoel Tel Aviv to open their Euroleague season, surviving a ferocious late-game rally on Thursday evening. Head coach Anton Gavel managed a brief smile before quickly regaining his characteristic composure to praise his players for weathering the storm against one of the competition’s most heavily financed rosters.
Bayern Survives Late-Game Rally in Sofia
A Roster Built on Heavy Financial Backing
Playing their Euroleague fixtures temporarily in Sofia, Bulgaria, Hapoel entered the continental campaign boasting immense financial backing from Israeli owner and multimillionaire Ofer Yannay. The club made headlines by luring Serbian Vasilije Micic away from the NBA on a reported net salary of 5,6 Millionen Dollar netto annually, making him the competition’s highest earner. Teammate Eliah Bryant also ranks among the league’s top ten earners with a salary approaching knapp drei Millionen.
Tactical Adjustments Shift Momentum
Despite that individual firepower, Bayern established control through collective discipline and sharp execution. Hapoel controlled the early boards behind Dan Oturu—who finished with a game-high 20 points and 14 rebounds—to claim a 21-16 advantage after the opening quarter. Gavel noted that his team struggled defensively during the initial stages before making the necessary adjustments. „Wir hatten in der ersten Halbzeit etwas Probleme in der Verteidigung. Schon im zweiten Viertel haben wir das lösen können, und das dritte war klar unser bestes in diesem Spiel,“ Gavel explained regarding the tactical shift that allowed Bayern to seize command.”
Obst and Voigtmann Deliver in the Clutch
World and European champion Andreas Obst led the Munich scoring charge with 19 points, carrying the offensive load during a difficult stretch before halftime by converting from beyond the arc and driving aggressively to the basket. Johannes Voigtmann added 11 points, including the decisive three-pointer in the closing moments that sealed the win after Hapoel erased a 75-57 deficit to grab an 84-83 lead.
Depth and Defense Preserve the Victory
Tel Aviv’s furious comeback was fueled by Micic—who finished with 14 points—alongside Bryant (10 points) and Antonio Blakeney (11 points). However, Bayern’s depth and defensive intensity ultimately preserved the result. Rokas Jokubaitis orchestrated the offense effectively in critical phases after missing the entire previous season due to injury, while Johannes Thiemann contributed 15 points and seven rebounds in his return to the Euroleague following a two-year stint in Japan. Gavel emphasized that his squad is built on aggressive defense and players determined to prove themselves on the European stage. Additional contributions came from Justinian Jessup, Miles Norris, and Marjon Beauchamp, all of whom integrated smoothly into the rotation.
Quick Turnaround for Domestic Action
Bayern’s schedule offers little time for celebration. The club returns to domestic action on Saturday to host Alba Berlin in a Bundesliga fixture at the BMW Park.
