AUDIO: BBL Cup: Baskets Oldenburg win dramatically in Vechta (1 min)
As of: November 17, 2025 10:13 p.m
The Baskets Oldenburg have qualified for the top four of the German Basketball Cup. The “Thunderbirds” beat their Lower Saxony Bundesliga rival Rasta Vechta 72:69 (30:39) on Monday evening. The decision was made at the very last second.
Chris Clemons took his time until almost the very last moment in the heated northern derby. Then the point guard, who moved to Oldenburg this season from the French first division club SLUC Nancy, started to throw when pressed by TJ Bamba and scored from the three-point line to make it 72:69.
The 300 Baskets fans who traveled to Vecha among the 3,140 spectators were beside themselves with joy – the home team’s supporters were completely horrified. The dream of reaching the semi-finals of the BBL Cup for the first time was shattered for the “coolest club in the world”, as Rasta describes itself, in a way that could hardly be surpassed in terms of drama.
Top Four at the end of February – venue still open
The Oldenburgers, where Clemons was the most diligent point collector with 20 points, can continue to dream of their second cup triumph after 2015. They are now two wins away from that at the Top Four tournament on February 21st and 22nd. However, it is not yet clear where the final round will take place at the beginning of next year. Düsseldorf and Munich are being discussed as venues.
In addition to the Baskets, FC Bayern Munich (won 96:80 at Gladiators Trier), Baskets Bamberg (72:66 against Heidelberg) and record cup winner Alba Berlin (91:78 against Jena) have reached the top four.
