The Hamburg Towers opened their Easycredit Basketball Bundesliga season with a 94:90 overtime victory against the Niners Chemnitz following a 13-minute interruption caused by a confetti storm.
A 13-Minute Confetti Delay on Opening Night
Playing in front of 2,392 fans at the Inselpark-Arena in Hamburg, the game’s opening tip-off was immediately followed by a massive deployment of celebratory paper. A league sponsor had provided 2,000 confetti cannons for the home opener, creating a flitter storm that mirrored traditions more commonly seen in South European arenas. Arena staff required 13 minutes to clear the white paper scraps from the hardwood using brooms, push mops, and a leaf blower.
Hamburg head coach Benka Barloschky admitted after the match that the display exceeded expectations. “The confetti rain was agreed upon, but I hadn’t imagined it would be so intense,” Barloschky said, noting that the planned three-minute window was significantly exceeded. “I think everyone involved felt that way. Both the confetti rain and the game gave me a lot of pleasure.”
A Hard-Fought Battle into Overtime
Despite the prolonged delay, both teams maintained high defensive intensity. The Towers forced 12 turnovers in a scrappy first half but struggled to convert easy scoring opportunities. Meanwhile, Chemnitz controlled the glass early, winning the first-half rebounding battle 27–20 to claim a narrow 43–42 halftime advantage.
Hamburg’s perimeter shooting plummeted in the second half, with their three-point percentage sinking to an abysmal 14 percent. The Niners capitalized in the final quarter, extending their lead to eight points at 75–67 with five minutes remaining. However, a late technical foul situation sparked a 7–0 run by the hosts, culminating in a game-tying three-pointer by Noah Thomasson with just 20 seconds left in regulation to force the extra period.
Overtime Heroics and Standout Performers
In the extra session, Hamburg top-scorer Kenneth Ogbe took over, netting seven of his 16 total points to seal the 94–90 win. The victory marks the tenth time Hamburg has defeated Chemnitz in their ongoing regional rivalry.
“It was my goal to be more aggressive today and attack more,” Ogbe said. “It is a good sign to come back like this after the defeat in Bonn. That was a good answer. I believe we have taken a step forward.”
Alongside Ogbe’s 16 points, Thomasson matched the tally with 16 points of his own, while teammate David Muenkat posted a dominant double-double with 14 points and 16 rebounds. For Chemnitz, Stefan Smith led all scorers with 19 points.
Next Fixtures
The Hamburg Towers will look to build on their momentum when they travel to face northern rivals EWE Baskets Oldenburg on Sunday. Meanwhile, Niners Chemnitz return home to host league newcomers Phoenix Hagen at Messe Chemnitz, with both fixtures scheduled for 16:30 local time.
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