BBL playoffs: Alba Berlin is in the final after a show of force against Bamberg

As of: June 9, 2026 • 10:49 p.m

Clear affair in the decisive, fifth semi-final duel: Alba Berlin dominated the Bamberg Baskets on Tuesday with 97:66. In the final series, the Albatrosses will now challenge the defending champions.

Used the home advantage and made it to the final: the basketball players from Alba Berlin won the fifth and decisive semi-final duel against the Bamberg Baskets on Tuesday evening after a furious performance with 97:66 (52:26). The most successful Berlin throwers were Michael Rataj with 16 and Justin Bean with 12 points.

In the best-of-five series, the Albatrosses won 3-2. FC Bayern Munich is now waiting in the final of the German championship.

Alba comes into the game well

Under the eyes of NBA star and ex-Albatross Franz Wagner, the Berliners were able to pull away little by little after an intense start. Although Bamberg showed good defensive rotation in the early stages, they repeatedly lost the ball carelessly on offense.

Alba leader Martin Hermannsson made it 10:7 with a three-pointer. Shortly afterwards, Malte Delow increased the score to 15:7 with two successful attempts – and forced Baskets coach Anton Gavel to take the first timeout of the evening after five minutes. The hosts had the upper hand 22:17 until the first quarter break.

Bamberg finds no answers

And the Berliners also got off to a better start in the second period: five more Delow points ensured the first double-digit lead of this game (27:17) – and one Agbakoko layup later, Gavel took another time out for the Albatrosses when the score was 29:17.

But Alba stayed in the flow. J’Wan Roberts fed Justin Bean, who increased the lead to 34:20 with a three-pointer from the corner – while the guests from Franconia increasingly lost control in this phase. Four minutes before the end of the first half they were already 20 points behind (20:40).

After a real demonstration of power – and with frenetic cheers in the Max Schmeling Hall – the Berliners went into the dressing room with a 52:26 lead.

Naturally, Bamberg came out of halftime with anger in their stomachs – and scored five quick points in the third quarter. First a three-pointer from Cobe Williams rushed through the net, then his teammate Richard Balint sank two free throws (31:52).

As a result, the guests were unable to start a substantial run to create tension again. Instead, the Berliners, who particularly dominated on the boards (37:20 rebounds after the third quarter), increased their lead even further. The final score was 70:41.

Alba cruises into the final – and challenges Bayern

In the last ten minutes the Albatrosses showed no weakness. Although Bamberg started a 12-0 run at the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Baskets’ rebellion came too late. Ultimately, Alba brought its comfortable lead to the finish line and secured its place in the final of the BBL playoffs with a dominant 97:66 home win.

FC Bayern is waiting in the fight for the championship title. The defending champions won their semi-final series comfortably against Bonn 3-0.

Broadcast: rbb|24, June 9th, 2026, 10:45 p.m

Audio: rbb|24, June 9th, 2026, Nikolaus Hillmann