Alba Berlin comfortably won the first quarter-final of the Bundesliga finals. With 114:89 (61:45) the Albatrosses beat their eternal rival Bamberg in the arena at the Ostbahnhof and thus took the lead in the best-of-five series. The best Berlin throwers were Johannes Thiemann (19 points) and Jaleen Smith (16 points).
The next game in the quarter-final series will take place on Sunday (May 15, 2022) in the Max-Schmeling-Halle in Berlin.
Alba dominates from a distance
In front of 5,765 spectators in the arena at Ostbahnhof, the guests from Bamberg got into the game better and started with a 5-0 run in the first minute. It took the home side a moment to rouse themselves, but they responded with a three-pointer from Jaleen Smith and were wide awake from then on. After three minutes, Alba took the lead for the first time.
However, they could not pull away far in the further course of the first section. As usual for the traditional duel, the fans got to see an intense game from both teams. The Berliners went into the quarter break with a small five-point lead.
A different picture emerged in the second half of the game. The intensity among the guests subsided, while Alba came back onto the floor confident and dominant. Malte Delow converted two three-pointers in a row right at the beginning of the quarter and thus initiated a spectacular offensive run by the albatrosses.
In this phase, Bamberg had big problems in defense and above all allowed many free throws from behind the line of three. The Berliners converted ten long-distance shots in the first half and scored 36 points in the second quarter alone. With a clear 61:45 lead we went into the dressing room.
One basket chases the next
Back from the break, the lively offensive game continued unchanged on the part of the team coached by Israel Gonzalez. She dominated Bamberg at will with impressive moves, but did not encounter much resistance in the defense of the guests. Although the Albatrosses were also vulnerable on the defensive and allowed many free throws, they scored so many points of their own that the gap remained.
At the end of the third quarter, the spectators were treated to an unbelievable offensive battle on both sides. One basket followed the next in a very short time and the final section ended with a spectacularly high intermediate score of 92:75.
Finally a dominant victory
In the last quarter the game became calmer and more controlled and the defense on both sides improved. With six minutes to go, the Albatrosses broke the 100-point mark and managed their lead confidently and with concentration from then on. After the wild third part of the game, it seemed as if both teams were a bit out of breath. Ultimately, the Berliners clearly prevailed with 114:89 and started the quarter-final series with a dominant victory.
Source: rbb