Defending champion Alba Berlin also lost his second home game against ratiopharm Ulm in the playoff quarterfinals of the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) and is about to be eliminated. In game three, the German champions were beaten 81:93 (46:53), making it 1:2 in the best-of-five series. Ulm now has two match balls, the first on Wednesday in their own hall.
The Telekom Baskets Bonn even have three match balls. After the successful start on Wednesday, the Champions League winner clearly beat the Niners Chemnitz again at 95:78 (49:40) and leads 2:0. Especially Javontae Hawkins (24 points) and playmaker TJ Shorts (19) could hardly be stopped by the Chemnitz team without a chance. It continues on Tuesday in Saxony.
Alba coach Israel Gonzalez told MagentaSport that his team played with fear and couldn’t control their emotions: “Now it’s a do-or-die game. We have to try to be better.”
The best thrower of the Berliners, who went down at the start in the Mercedes-Benz Arena (64:88) and then won in Ulm (91:77), was Jaleen Smith with 17 points. As the guests’ top scorer, Bruno Caboclo scored 22 points.
Alba showed a weak second quarter (19:33) and was 14 points behind (54:68/27th minute). Although the Berliners fought their way back into the game, it was no longer enough to win.
Alba Berlin – ratiopharm Ulm 81:93 (46:53). – Best pitchers: Smith (17 points), Thiemann (16), Lo M. (13), Delow (11) for Berlin – Caboclo (22), Klepeisz (19), dos Santos (14), Hawley (12), Jallow (11) for Ulm. – Viewers: 10,843