Telekom Baskets Bonn crowned one of the most successful days in their club’s history by winning the Bundesliga main round early.
A few hours after their playmaker TJ Shorts II was voted “Most Valuable Player” (MVP) of the regular season and their coach Tuomas Iisalo was voted Coach of the Year again, the Rhinelanders secured themselves with a confident 102:75 (47:30) at the earlier Series champion Brose Bamberg took first place before their last league game on Sunday against ratiopharm Ulm.
Bonn can no longer fall behind the second-placed champion Alba Berlin. After the final 83:72 (47:34) success at relegated medi Bayreuth, the title defender has to be satisfied with second place even if the Baskets lose against Ulm due to the lost direct comparison. Third place for Bayern Munich was already certain before the 78:89 (42:44) home defeat against the MLP Academics Heidelberg.
In the race for the last two play-off places, Bamberg’s bankruptcy against Bonn and Heidelberg’s victory in Munich affected the starting positions for the main round final. Bamberg can no longer reach eighth place with support and will only be a spectator in the knockout phase. The same applies to the Würzburg Baskets with their 73:77 (37:41) defeat in their own hall against relegation candidate Löwen Braunschweig, who took a big step towards staying up in the league. Heidelberg, on the other hand, can continue to hope for participation in the final round. In addition to the Academics, Ulm, the Niners Chemnitz and the Rostock Seawolves are also among the candidates for a play-off spot.
Bonn’s appearance in Bamberg resembled a demonstration of power. The hosts didn’t even come close to the surprise success that the Franks needed to maintain their play-off chances. Even more successful than Shorts II with 17 points, Tyson Ward trumped with 22 points.