Newcomer Justin Bean contributed 15 points to the win in Tübingen Photo: picture alliance / contrastphoto
By Nicolas Sowa
Alba Berlin remains on course in the Bundesliga. The Berliners won on Monday evening against newly promoted Tigers Tübingen with 97:81 (49:49).
The Berliners move back to second place. The best Berlin throwers were Justin Bean with 15 and Gabriele Procida, Yanni Wetzell and Khalifa Koumadje with 14 points each.
Coach Israel Gonzalez gave world champion Johannes Thiemann and Matt Thomas a break. Center Wetzell celebrated his comeback after recovering from an ankle injury. But the Berliners had a hard time against the lively and nimble hosts from the start. Alba initially ran a narrow deficit.
But in the second quarter they seemed to catch themselves. Things were going better offensively, but there were still weaknesses in defense. Surprisingly large gaps appeared again and again and the opposing shooters were too often alone. Tübingen also hit seven three-point shots in the first half.
After the break, Alba defended more intensively and took the lead again, reaching double figures for the first time at the end of the third period (69:59). And the hosts became increasingly tired. The Berliners continued to allow themselves to lose too many balls, but in the end they managed to win.