Champions Bayern Munich have taken the lead in the Basketball Bundesliga for the first time this season. Gordon Herbert’s team won a dramatic game at ratiopharm Ulm with 81:77 (68:68, 38:36) after extra time. With one game less, the Munich team overtook the competition due to the better basket difference.
In the new edition of the German championship final in the arena in Neu-Ulm, it was the home team in particular that was under pressure. After eight defeats from the last nine games across all competitions, Ty Harrelson’s team put up a close fight and were only two points behind at the break.
Two seconds before the end of the fourth quarter, Christian Sengfelder saved the runner-up into overtime with a three-pointer. Led by Spencer Dinwiddie, who was the game’s best scorer with 22 points and recorded the most minutes for his team, the German champions from Munich ultimately secured the preliminary decision in the first half of overtime.
After their third league win in a row, the cup semi-finalists took first place ahead of Syntainics MBC and Gladiators Trier – the trio each have six wins to their name. Bayern have a catch-up game at the Rostock Seawolves on New Year’s Eve.
Meanwhile, Alba Berlin continued its successful streak. After being behind for a long time, the capital team turned the game against the Chemnitz 99ers to 89:85 (44:48) and have now won the last nine competitive games. Led by Martin Hermannsson, who was the best scorer with 20 points, coach Pedro Calles’ Berliners managed the turnaround in the last quarter, which moved the team to fourth place in the table.