Basketball-Bundesligist Niners Chemnitz opened their EuroCup group stage campaign with an 82–69 defeat against Turkish side Tofas Bursa on Tuesday evening, September 29, 2026. Playing away in Bursa, head coach Rodrigo Pastore’s squad struggled through a difficult first half before staging a failed comeback attempt in the second half.
A Desolate First Half In Bursa
The visiting German side began the match with high tempo but quickly fell behind midway through the opening quarter. According to match reports, intense defensive pressure from the hosts forced Chemnitz into numerous turnovers. Bursa capitalized with a 10–0 run to pull ahead 22–13 by the ninth minute, and their advantage continued to expand, reaching 40–22 by the 17th minute. Compounding their offensive struggles, the Niners converted only one of their 14 three-point attempts during the first two quarters, resulting in a 46–30 deficit at halftime.
Tactical Shifts Spark A Late Fightback
Following the intermission, Chemnitz altered their defensive strategy by shifting into a zone defense. This adjustment successfully disrupted the rhythm of the Turkish hosts and generated cleaner looks on the offensive end. Slowly cutting into the deficit, the visitors managed to pull within two points at 60–58 by the 33rd minute of the contest. Phlandrous Fleming Jr. led the charge for the German club, finishing the night as their top scorer with 18 points.
Late-Game Errors Secure The Victory For Tofas
Despite closing the gap in the final period, Chemnitz lapsed into earlier mistakes as the game entered its closing minutes. Tofas Bursa took advantage of the late-game miscues to pull away again, ultimately securing an unchallenged 82–69 victory. The final quarter scoreline reflected the hosts’ resurgence, closing out the match 22–16 in the fourth period after the initial quarters ended 22–15 and 24–15 to the home side, alongside a 23–14 third-quarter edge for Chemnitz.
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