Tim Schneider was the best scorer against Frankfurt with 22 points Photo: City Press GmbH
By Nicolas Sowa
Alba Berlin has made a successful start to the new year. The Berliners won on Tuesday evening in the basketball Bundesliga at home in front of 6142 spectators against the Fraport Skyliners Frankfurt with 99:74 (46:36).
This means that the defending champion remains the first pursuer of leader Bonn in the table.
The best Berlin throwers were Tim Schneider with 22, as well as Jonas Mattisseck and Yovel Zoosman with eleven points each.
At first, both opponents found it difficult to get into the game. Alba coach Israel Gonzalez had given captain Luke Sikma and Jaleen Smith, who had been in good form recently, a break. In the first game of the new year, however, both sides still lacked the rhythm and so there were only a few baskets to see at first.
Towards the end of the first period, Alba came into play more offensively. At the beginning of the second quarter, the lead even grew to 21 points (38:17). But then the hosts allowed themselves too many ball losses and brought the Hessians back into the game. The game was now much more even.
Malte Delow (left) and Johannes Thiemann high five Photo: City Press GmbH
Towards the end of the third quarter, Frankfurt punished Berlin’s many mistakes and suddenly found themselves down to five points again (61:55). But that seemed to have been a wake-up call for the capitals. After that they were able to settle down again.
In the end, the two Frankfurters Matt Haarms and JJ Frazier were eliminated with five fouls. And Alba finally brought the victory to the finish in a sovereign manner.