Johannes Thiemann (r) was the best Berlin thrower against Crailsheim with 16 points Photo: picture alliance / Andreas Gora | Andreas Gora
By Nicolas Sowa
Alba Berlin has successfully mastered its home premiere in the Basketball Bundesliga. The Berliners won on Monday evening at home in front of 10,778 spectators against Hakro Merlins Crailsheim with 110:75 (59:40).
After the second win in the second game, the capital city team also took the lead in the table. The best Berlin throwers were Johannes Thiemann and Matt Thomas with 16 points each.
Before the game, Berlin’s world champion Thiemann was honored with a huge ovation. And his team, with center Yanni Wetzell having to take a break for around six weeks due to an ankle injury suffered in Heidelberg, got off to a committed start. They didn’t allow much, especially on defense.
Sterling Brown goes to the basket against two Crailsheimers Photo: picture alliance / contrastphoto | O. Behrendt
Alba was in the lead from the start and at the end of the first quarter it reached double figures for the first time (22:11). The hosts then pulled away to 19 points, but Crailsheim recovered and scored better until the break.
But the hosts remained unimpressed, came out of the locker room with a lot of momentum and literally played Crailsheim against the wall in the third quarter. The lead even grew to 30 points (86:56). After that, Alba slowed down and spared some of the regulars. The Berliners remained confident until the end.