The German runner-up Alba Berlin is taking its remarkable crisis into the new year in the BBL with no signs of improvement. The team from the capital also lost its home game on New Year’s Eve against its neighbors in the table, the Rostock Seawolves, 85:96 (47:43), which was the eighth defeat for Alba in the twelfth game of the season.
The Euroleague participant, who has fallen so far, is celebrating the turn of the year as 15th in the table. and not only is increasingly losing sight of the direct playoff places (top 6). Berlin also needs a short winning streak in the new year to make the detour via the play-ins (top 10).
The Icelander Martin Hermannsson was the best scorer for the hosts with 25 points, but the outstanding man played for the opponent: US guard Bryce Hamilton led Rostock to their sixth win of the season with 37 points, setting a club record in the BBL.
Heidelberg now second
On Monday, the MLP Academics Heidelberg won the Baden-Württemberg derby at the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg and moved to second place in the table. In the end, a four-point lead was enough for victory. Led by the outstanding Michael Weathers (21 points), the Academics from Heidelberg won 67:63 in Ludwigsburg.
Heidelberg’s Mateo Seric is blocked by Kellan Grady from the Riesen Ludwigsburg
Würzburg stumbles in Bamberg
The Bamberg Baskets have stopped the Würzburg Baskets from flying high. In the Franconian duel, the Upper Franconians surprisingly won against the Lower Franconians with 82:70. As a result of the defeat, the city under the Marienberg Fortress lost second place in the table to Heidelberg.
In the eastern duel, the Niners Chemnitz prevailed against the Central German BC with 82:72, the Towers Hamburg lost in their own hall to the Löwen Braunschweig with 86:91.
Third win in a row for Munich
On Sunday, Bayern Munich won the catch-up game on matchday 8 against the penultimate team, the Skyliners Frankfurt, with 91:84 (52:47) and celebrated their third league victory in a row.
Whether the Munich team can celebrate the turn of the year as league leaders will, however, be decided by the Würzburg Baskets, who will only draw level on points against Bamberg on Monday evening (6.30 p.m.) and could overtake them in the table thanks to the better difference.
The Bayern team didn’t achieve a brilliant performance, but they certainly achieved their ninth win of the season. Frankfurt’s American Malik Parsons was the best thrower with 26 points.
Vechta wins the derby
Rasta Vechta had previously won the Lower Saxony derby against its big neighbor EWE Baskets Oldenburg. In the last game of the year, the ninth-place team defeated Oldenburg 98:91 (59:41).
After a clear half-time lead and a lead of 21 points for Vechta, the game almost ended in the fourth quarter. Oldenburg got within one point with 72 seconds left.
The outstanding thrower of the game was Oldenburg’s Justin Jaworski with 31 points. Brandon Randolph (23), Tyger Campbell (17) and Johann Grünloh (14) were particularly successful for Vechta.
Bonn prevails
The Telekom Baskets Bonn also underlined their playoff ambitions with a mandatory win. Bonn showed no weaknesses against bottom team BG Göttingen with 80:67 (42:27).