The best Berlin pitcher was Jaleen Smith (right) with 23 points Photo: City Press GmbH
By Nicolas Sowa
Alba Berlin has continued its series of defeats in the Euroleague. The basketball Bundesliga club lost on Tuesday evening at home in front of 7117 spectators against the Serbian top team Red Star Belgrade after extra time with 84:88 (40:37, 75:75).
For Alba it was already the sixth bankruptcy in a row in the premier class. The best Berlin throwers were Jaleen Smith with 23 points and Ben Lammers with twelve points.
The team coached by Israel Gonzalez initially had problems at the start and were quickly trailing 0:5. But the hosts got into the game better afterwards and responded with a 10-0 run.
Now the ball went to them and the lead grew to 17:11. But it was only a flash in the pan. By the end of the first quarter, the misses were piling up.
Christ Koumadje on a free throw Photo: City Press GmbH
The lead changed hands in the second quarter. Both teams struggled with their shots. During this phase, the game turned out to be a true festival of misses. While Roter Stern allowed himself various airballs, Alba allowed himself to lose too many balls. Despite this, they managed to regain a narrow lead at the break.
After the change of sides, the hosts were able to pull away again. But the miss rate remained high in the weak game. Even simple free throws were awarded in rows.
In the final phase, a seven-point lead was lost (72:65). So the decision was only made in extra time, in which the guests simply made fewer mistakes against the now tired Berliners.