The basketball players of Alba Berlin suffered a defeat in the Euroleague. At Valencia Basket on Thursday evening (November 2nd, 2023) the Berliners lost 71:79 (39:41) despite a good performance.
The best Berlin thrower was Sterling Brown with 19 points.
Alba Berlin and walking between two basketball worlds
Alba Berlin started the season with dominant victories in the Bundesliga and defeats in the Euroleague. A difficult balancing act that should only become easier with time and more experience. By Jakob Lobachmore
Alba starts calmly and well
Alba coach Israel González started with Matteo Spagnolo, Sterling Brown, Louis Olinde, Johannes Thiemann and Krešimir Nikić. The game started evenly and at a relatively slow pace. Alba played calmly, repeatedly found good throwing positions and thus gained a narrow but deserved lead. After a good five minutes, the Berliners were leading 9:8.
However, in the second half of the first half, Alba missed a few good opportunities, so Valencia left the first quarter with a narrow 15:14 lead. Alba could still be satisfied because they kept up well with the Spanish favorites at the beginning. Louis Olinde in particular was accurate and performed well.
The second round was a little more lively and with more speed. Alba continued to play well in the game, but the hosts with top scorer Semi Ojeleye were now more dominant. But there was still a good performance from Berlin, which was rewarded with a narrow 41:39 for Valencia at halftime.
Valencia picks up the pace, Alba holds on
After the break, Alba came out of the locker room better. Valencia seemed sleepy at first, so Alba quickly turned the game around. When the score was 47:43 for the Berliners, Valancia coach Alex Mumbru took an early timeout. The interruption helped the Spaniards: Valencia then increased the intensity. But Alba remained vigilant and kept the game close before the last quarter with the score at 56:54 for Valencia.
In the final section it went back and forth continuously. In a game that was close until the end, the hosts only prevailed in the final minutes and Alba was unable to reward herself for a good performance. In the end it was 79:71 for Valencia, who remain undefeated in the Euroleague.
Broadcast: rbb24 Inforadio, November 2nd, 2023, 10:15 p.m
