Basketball Bundesliga team ratiopharm Ulm won its home game in the Eurocup against Podgorica with 84:67. Two strong quarters were enough for the German champions.
Emotions at the beginning, party atmosphere at the end. The Eurocup home game between ratiopharm Ulm and Podgorica from Montenegro wasn’t always a spectacle, but in the end it was at least successful.
Emotional reunion before the game
Before things start in the Neu-Ulm Arena, things get emotional. Brandon Paul is welcomed. The American, now in the Podgorica team, was Part of the Ulm championship team last season. He receives the championship ring in the center circle. Many tears flow from the otherwise ice-cold three-point shooter. There is a standing ovation from the stands.
Only made things difficult for his ex-colleagues at times: Brandon Paul (blue jersey) against Juan Nunez.
Three-person festival at the start
The prodigal son, of all people, is responsible for the first action of the game. Like last season in the championship team, Brandon Paul scores a three-pointer from the corner. LJ Figueroa can do that on the Ulm side too, making it 3-3. After that it goes back and forth. But for Ulm’s coach Anton Gavel the guests’ points come too easily, so he takes the first time out when the score is 9:12. After the time-out there is a duel between the two centers: Yoan Makoundou scores spectacularly with a dunk over Trevion Williams. The Ulm center countered with two successful threes. The first quarter is really fun and goes to ratiopharm Ulm with a score of 23:19.
Weaker odds in the second quarter
Ulm comes out of the quarter break strong, scores with a dunk from Tobias Jensen and the first three-pointer from Juan Nunez. Trevion Williams is once again one of the highlights in the Ulm team. He sank three out of three three-pointers until the middle of the second quarter. An extraordinary rate for a center. But ratiopharm Ulm failed to gain a lead in this phase of the game. This brings Podgorica back into the game. You will find your “touch” again. We go into halftime evenly balanced (37:37).
Not pretty basketball in the third quarter
Both teams have a rather bumpy start to the second half. Clear moves are becoming a rare commodity. After a well-played attack by Ulm, which Karim Jallow completed with a three-pointer, Podgorica took a time out. But the guests still can’t think of much. Ulm is slowly expanding its lead. The players who come off the bench also score, like Pacôme Dadiet or Philipp Herkenhoff. Ulm leads after the third round with 59:48.
Work victory in the final minutes
At the beginning of the last quarter, Brandon Paul reports again. His fourth three-point attempt also found its way into the basket. But neither team can match the pace and quality of the first quarter. The game no longer impressed the 2,370 spectators. But the game still ends on a conciliatory note. Ulm fends off one last little rebellion from the opponent and even works magic in the last two minutes. In the end, the 84:67 victory was fully deserved.
