Iisalo: “This team always finds a way”
“It was another great fight from our boys. I say after almost every game how proud I am of our performance and fighting spirit, but it’s hard to understand what a good job everyone is doing and how hard each individual is fighting.”said the visibly relieved coach Tuomas Iisalo after the game: “This team always finds a way.”
This was by no means a matter of course, after all the Baskets lost their two home games at the beginning of the best-of-five series. In Munich, the people of Bonn had their backs to the wall and prevailed.
The other side was correspondingly disappointed after the next match ball was awarded. “We lost the rebounds again. Six offensive rebounds in the third quarter alone changed the momentum.”analyzed Bayern coach Andrea Trinchieri after the game.
Trinchieri: “Those who are afraid should stay at home”
“Now there’s game five. We just have to be better. Anything can happen.”said the Italian before Wednesday’s decider in Bonn. “Anyone who is afraid of going into the fifth game and winning should stay at home”.
If his team wins, there would be a repeat of last year’s final against Alba Berlin. For Munich it would be a chance for revenge after the defeat last year.
Bonn so far five times in the final – and without a title
However, Bonn is definitely also insisting on this. The Baskets have been in the Bundesliga final five times so far, they could not win, four times the opponent was Alba Berlin. At least Iisalo goes into the decisive game calmly: “Bayern have all the pressure on their side and we’re playing to a full house. It’s a beautiful situation for us.”
“It’s going to be a hoopla”said Baskets veteran Karsten Tadda in the magentaSports-Podcast “Basketball Department”. “Munich now has its back against the wall. You have to come to us in the hall. We have nothing to lose again. We’re almost writing a summer fairy tale.”
Main sponsor quits
The first final since 2009, especially the first championship title, would also be the end of an era in Bonn. After 28 years, Telekom is stepping down as the club’s main sponsor, and the baskets will have to compete under a new name as early as next season.