Frankfurt Skyliners secured a 79-71 victory against Siauliai Basketball at Ballsporthalle, marking their first European home game in the Eurocup since January 2019.
Judah Mintz sparks Frankfurt comeback in the fourth quarter
Judah Mintz sparked a decisive fourth-quarter sequence when he absorbed contact near the basket, converted an acrobatic shot while falling, and added a free throw to cap a three-point play. That individual effort pushed Frankfurt ahead 57-55 with seven and a half minutes remaining on the game clock. Head coach Klaus Perwas pointed to that stretch as an indicator of the team’s capabilities, noting after the match that the squad found a necessary competitive edge late in the contest. The result lifted the Skyliners to their first win in the Eurocup this season, rebounding from a 104-72 opening loss to Italian side Umana Reyer Venedig.
Klaus Perwas addresses slow starts and second-quarter deficits
Despite the final score, head coach Klaus Perwas expressed dissatisfaction with the team’s early execution, describing the second quarter and the start of the third period as substandard. During that lull, Frankfurt fell behind by as many as 13 points before heading into halftime trailing 35-28. Perwas emphasized that the squad cannot rely indefinitely on late-game rallies, stating that the players must maintain higher intensity from the opening tip-off. Opposing coach Darius Songaila acknowledged Frankfurt’s strong second-half adjustment following the final buzzer.
Thomas Klepeisz and Roman Bedime stabilize the rotation
Roman Bedime delivered a team-leading performance in the frontcourt to help offset the absence of center Race Thompson, who sat out due to minor knee issues. Team leadership credited the veteran presence of Thomas Klepeisz with helping steady the roster through tense moments in the final minutes. The victory arrived just two days after Frankfurt secured a narrow win in the Basketball-Bundesliga against promoted side Hagen, highlighting an emerging knack for executing under pressure.
Next European test awaits at London Lions
Frankfurt will resume continental play on October 15 with an away fixture against the London Lions. The London side enters that matchup following an 89-77 victory over La Laguna Teneriffa, having previously dropped their opening European fixture to Siauliai. Domestically, the Skyliners turn their attention to a home Bundesliga fixture against Hamburg scheduled for Sunday afternoon at 16:30 local time.
