Chemnitz Niners sit in the bottom of the table after four games following a 76-82 defeat against Jena, leaving forward Mateo Seric and coach Rodrigo Pastore facing heavy tasks ahead of European and domestic fixtures.
Mateo Seric Criticizes Chemnitz Rebounding After Derby Loss
Chemnitz forward Mateo Seric pulled no punches after his side recorded only one win in four games in the BBL. It was reported that the 27-year-old criticized his team’s lack of physical presence on the glass after the final buzzer in Jena.
“We rebounded poorly,” Seric told the streaming platform DYN. “The opponent had a lot of second chances. I think they shot at the basket much more often than we did. The fifty-fifty balls all landed with Jena. You can’t win a derby like that. That is very frustrating!”
The loss sting even more for the traveling contingent of Chemnitz supporters who made the trip to Thuringia. Seric acknowledged the backing from the stands despite the disappointing outcome. “I thought it was megacool how many were here and supported us. It’s bitter that we couldn’t reward them with a victory,” Seric said.
Pastore Points to Third-Quarter Collapse
Coach Rodrigo Pastore identified the middle periods of the game as the catalyst for the defeat. It was reported that while the visitors managed the ball effectively in the opening twenty minutes, the game slipped away during the third quarter.
“In the first half, we still controlled the ball well. In the third quarter, however, the game slipped away from us. We lost control, and turnovers became a massive problem,” Pastore said. The coach also emphasized the team’s ongoing struggles under the boards, noting that giving opponents multiple scoring opportunities per possession proved fatal.
Chemnitz entered the matchup dealing with significant backcourt hurdles, playing without the suspended Williams and the long-term injured Choupas, prompting open questions regarding potential roster additions at the playmaker position.
Late Rally Falls Short in Crunchtime
Despite trailing for large stretches, Chemnitz mounted a brief charge in the dying moments. Seric, one of the most experienced German players in the squad with over 140 BBL appearances, converted a three-pointer to cut the deficit to 70-77 with 79 seconds remaining on the clock.
The late surge provided momentary hope for the visiting bench, but Jena executed cleanly down the stretch to secure their second victory of the season. The home side kept their composure in the closing minute to deny any completed comeback.
Quick Turnaround Against Neptunas Klaipeda and Bayern Munich
The schedule offers no breathing room for Pastore’s coaching staff. Chemnitz returns to action on Wednesday in the EuroCup, hosting Lithuanian side Neptunas Klaipeda at the Messe Chemnitz with tip-off scheduled for 19:00 local time. Things get tougher domestically on Saturday when the Niners face Bayern Munich in BBL play.
“We have a lot of quality, which we show in phases. We understand each other very well. If we can turn one or two things around, then we are heading in the right direction,” Seric said. “We have to stay positive.”
