19:58
The starting five
Trier coach Jacques Schneider initially relies on Adekunle, King, Roland, Linßen and Ashworth. ALBA coach Pedro Calles starts today with Bean, Roberts, Mattisseck, Kayil and Griesel.
19:54
Which team will dominate the game?
But the Albatrosses also come with a lot of tailwind, after three wins in the league – especially the win after extra time in the classic duel against Bamberg with 87:82 should have given a boost – the guests are definitely looking for revenge today for the defeat in the first meeting of the season. But while Trier can rely on a longer break, coach Pedro Calles’ men were still challenged in the Champions League on Wednesday: At AEK Athens, the men from the Spree narrowly had to admit defeat 80:88. But things are going well in the league, Jack Kayil in particular has been in top form recently and scored his career best with 24 points against Bamberg. So today it will be interesting to look at the point guards in Bayern’s pursuit duel. With two of the league’s strongest offensive teams, a point spectacle can be expected, but it remains to be seen who will come out on top in the end and maintain their winning streak.
19:46
Can the home team extend their winning streak?
The Trier team got off to a strong start to the season, with a five-game winning streak setting the bar really high. On the third match day, the away game at ALBA Berlin was on the agenda. In the capital, the league newcomer asserted itself with a strong performance, especially the 16 converted three-pointers helped to secure a 97:92 away win in the first leg. While there were three defeats in a row between the years, the Gladiators remained completely undefeated in January. Coach Jacques Schneider seems to have formed a strong unit there, and the cup winners MBC in particular felt this strongly in their own living room when they lost 84:110 a week ago. New signing Steven Ashworth in particular didn’t need any warm-up time, plays a crucial role on the court as a playmaker and recently put up a strong 13 assists.
7:38 p.m
Second against third, the cracker on Monday evening
It says top game on it, it has top game in it: At the end of the 18th matchday, Berlin, as the second-best team in the league, plays against the third-best club in the table. If you had told the newcomer from Trier before the season that they would win against the Albatrosses in the capital and be in the top three for the playoffs in the mid-season, many would have dismissed it in disbelief. But behind the almost uncatchable Bayern, Berlin and Trier are the best this league has to offer. With three wins in a row, both teams are among the hottest stocks in the league. With only five defeats each, both sides are really well in the race for the coveted playoff places. While the men from the Spree are often welcome regular guests there, it would be a big surprise for the Gladiators in their return season to the German upper house if the men from the Mosel were able to maintain their average points throughout the entire main round.
7:30 p.m
Hello and welcome to the 18th matchday of the Basketball Bundesliga! It’s top game time, the Gladiators Trier host ALBA Berlin, tip-off is in the SWT Arena at 8 p.m.!
