Johannes Thiemann and Yovel Zoosman fight for Alba and win with their team against Oldenburg Photo: picture alliance/nordphoto GmbH/Jürgen Engler
By Nicolas Sowa
One week before the Final Four Cup, Alba Berlin successfully defended its lead in the Basketball Bundesliga. On Saturday evening, the Berliners won at home in front of 9,135 spectators against pursuers EWE Baskets Oldenburg with 89:81 (53:42).
It was the eleventh Bundesliga win in a row for the defending champions. The best Berlin throwers were Jaleen Smith with 19 and Louis Olinde with twelve points.
Both teams were highly concentrated from the start. The three-point throws fell on both sides. The Berliners, who were missing captain Luke Sikma (muscular problems), Gabriele Procida and Maodo Lo (both ill), increasingly took over the initiative after being 2:5 behind and after a good seven minutes they were 26:13 ahead.
In the second quarter, Oldenburg got into the game better and managed to get to the basket again and again. The Berlin defensive revealed gaps again and again. The hosts countered with a lot of speed, but the throws were no longer as natural as in the first section. Alba couldn’t get any further away.
Even after the change of sides, the game was more balanced. The Berlin advantage melted down to five points (53:48) and coach Israel Gonzalez immediately called the time-out.
That helped, Alba was then able to increase the lead again a little. In the final phase, however, things got tight again. The decision was only made 45 seconds before the end when Johannes Thiemann dunked to make it 87:80.