The Alba Berlin basketball players equalized in the second home game of the series. In a hard-fought game, the Berliners laid the foundation for success in the third quarter.
Alba Berlin won the fourth game in the final series of the German Basketball Championship against Bayern Munich. On Friday evening, the Berlin team won 71:61 despite being significantly behind shortly after half-time. The best Berliner was Justin Bean, who contributed 17 points and nine rebounds to the victory. The final series is evenly tied at 2-2 thanks to the Alba victory and will have a decisive fifth game.
Quick start to the game
The game in the full and loud Max Schmeling Hall started quickly and was initially characterized by strong attacking actions from both teams. Alba and Bayern achieved remarkable dunks and three-point throws, but the defenses of both teams hardly found a way to stop the offensive actions. The Berliners also showed themselves to be accurate from the free throw line again – at the end of the game lost third game That was one of the big mistakes. Because of this and thanks to a strong three-point rate of 50 percent, the Albatrosses led 26:23 after the first quarter.
Alba’s quota is decreasing, Bayern are moving on
However, the number of three-point throws converted subsequently fell – this was also evident on Wednesday and Alba found it more difficult to stay close to Munich in the second quarter. Because Bayern simply continued to score consistently, led by the German national player Andreas Obst and the outstanding point guard Nenad Dimitrijevic. In the minutes before the break, Alba tried to keep the deficit within limits. And that was successful: Justin Bean with a three-pointer and Moses Wood with a dunking ended the weak phase, Malte Delow followed up with a layup, but the Berlin team still went into the halftime break with a 42:45 deficit.
Impressive Berlin comeback in the third quarter
In the second half, Alba got off to a terrible start: no shots were made at the front, but they still couldn’t stop Bayern at the back. Just over four minutes after the break, the home side were clearly behind for the first time, 42:52. Alba coach Pedro Calles took a time out to wake up and regroup his team. The Berliners came back onto the floor, played their attacks more decisively and quickly again and managed to stop several Bayern attacks in a row for the first time in this game.
Alba got close again – reduced the score to five, then to three points. Jack Kayil managed a layup with a foul, he converted the free throw, then Justin Bean hit a three-pointer, Alba took the lead again for the first time since the middle of the second quarter (55:54). In direct response, Bean got a rebound at his own basket and assisted Malte Delow in the quick counterattack, the Berliner also scored three points – Alba suddenly led 58:54 at the end of the third quarter.
Alba plays herself into a frenzy – under the eyes of Franz Wagner
The start of the final quarter also knocked the otherwise calm observer Franz Wagner out of his seat. The NBA star and former Alba professional was already a guest in the hall on Wednesday and had to watch a Berlin team that was getting weaker and weaker. It was completely different in this fourth game on Friday: Alba played himself into a frenzy and continued his run from the end of the third quarter. With a 16-0 run, the Berliners extended their lead to 68:54 – with about five minutes left to play. The big favorites, Bayern, who could have become champions, despaired of the Alba defense and themselves. This time it was they who missed throws from the game and even from the free throw line.
Decisive game on Sunday
Alba’s defense remained stable, gave Munich only a few good opportunities and dominated especially in the baskets: 29:22 defensive rebounds and 17:10 offensive rebounds in favor of the Berliners speak for themselves. After their impressive run, the Berliners confidently achieved victory and won 71:61. The decisive fifth game of the final series will take place on Sunday in Munich. As the best main round team, Bayern have one more game at home.
Broadcast: rbb|24, June 19, 2026, 10:40 p.m Audio: rbb|24, June 19, 2026, Nikolaus Hillmann
