Alba’s Yanni Wetzell (right) against Frankfurt’s Derek Cooks Jr. The center was the top scorer in Berlin with 16 points Photo: picture alliance / Eibner-Presse
By Nicolas Sowa
Basketball Bundesliga team Alba Berlin is still hot on the heels of leaders Telekom Baskets Bonn.
On Sunday, the Berliners easily won 79:61 (42:33) at the Fraport Skyliners Frankfurt, which was second to last in the table, and remain second in the table. Best Berlin throwers were Yanni Wetzell with 16 and Johannes Thiemann with twelve points.
Coach Israel Gonzalez had to do without guard Tamir Blatt, who is out with a thumb injury. Captain Luke Sikma was given a breather and Jaleen Smith, who was in good form recently, and center Christ Koumadje were also in the squad, but were also rested throughout the game.
Louis Olinde tries to assert himself under the basket against Derek Cooks Jr. from Frankfurt Photo: picture alliance / Eibner-Presse
The rest of the Alba team still determined the initial phase. The Berliners quickly took a 10-2 lead. With an intensive defense, they hardly allowed Frankfurt good throwing chances. However, the Hessians also rejected a great deal. Curious: Alba didn’t concede a single foul whistle in the first quarter. In the second period, however, the hosts came into play better offensively and closed the gap to three points again (23:20). But the Berliners remained unimpressed and held the lead.
After the change of sides, the guests then intensified their defensive work again, and Frankfurt found it more difficult offensively. At the beginning of the last quarter, Berlin’s lead increased to 22 points (67:45).
Alba then shifted down a few gears and lost the ball several times. The fourth league win in a row was no longer in danger.