Alba Berlin won the chasing duel in the Bundesliga. On Sunday evening, the German champions won at home in front of 2275 spectators against the Hakro Merlins Crailsheim with 106:74 (47:39).
Alba is now fifth in the table but has played fewer games than the competition. The best Berlin throwers were Oscar da Silva and Yovel Zoosman with 15 points each.
Coach Israel Gonzalez was without injured Marcus Eriksson and Louis Olinde. It took the Berliners a few minutes to get into the game. They were quickly 2:9 behind. But thanks to good defensive work and fewer mistakes on offense, the hosts were able to take the lead for the first time in the middle of the first quarter (14:13).
Both teams tried to pick up the pace but Alba was now more focused. At the beginning of the second period, the lead went into double digits for the first time (27:17). However, Crailsheim held out and fought back. But whenever things threatened to get tight in the first half, the Berliners had an answer.
After the change of sides, Alba was able to increase again. With an 18:4 run in the middle of the third quarter, the hosts continued to pull away. Mainly thanks to a strong quota for three-point throws.
Before the final section, Alba was 81:56 ahead – they then brought home the clear home win with ease.