After the abrupt end of their winning streak, Bayern Munich’s basketball players were completely disillusioned.
“We have been brought back down to earth,” said world champion Andreas Obst, commenting on the 86:109 rebuff of the Bundesliga table leaders in the EuroLeague by two-time title winners Anadolu Istanbul.
The 27-year-old apparently attributed the severe setback to the cup winner’s playoff hopes after nine successes in a row across all competitions to recruitment problems. They “couldn’t get the Turkish hosts under control. We weren’t ready.”
In his analysis of Munich’s first defeat in more than a month (72:76 in the EuroLeague against Olympiacos Piraeus on February 1st), Obst complained about a wasted nine-point lead in the first half or 35 points The home side had numerous deficiencies in his team’s game in the third quarter alone: ”We were too busy acting instead of reacting and were a bit behind. Too many ball losses, the rebounds were okay, but defensively they got too many open throws. “
Munich’s chances of taking part in the playoffs and the preliminary eliminations with the top ten teams are not optimal with 16 defeats and only twelve wins.
Nevertheless, Bayern coach Pablo Laso tried to be optimistic. “It certainly wasn’t a good day for us. We have to learn from these mistakes. But we also have to be clear that we are still in the playoff race,” said the 56-year-old Spaniard.
Munich’s next game in the premier class on March 15th (Friday/8:15 p.m.) against the Lithuanian representative Zalgiris Kaunas with former Bayern coach Andrea Trinchieri on the bench almost has the character of a final. “It will be difficult now,” said Laso, “but we will fight until the end.”