FC Bayern Munich won the semi-finals of the Basketball Bundesliga at Telekom Baskets Bonn thanks to their nerves of steel and, like last year, are playing against ALBA Berlin for the championship title.
After two consecutive home defeats, coach Andrea Trinchieri’s team won the fifth duel 87:74 (42:44), the best-of-five series went to Munich 3:2.
“We made life difficult for ourselves, but it was also a great opponent. We had to show our best game,” said Italian Trinchieri on “MagentaSport”: “We told each other the truth in the dressing room after game four. My team was very focused.”
Already on Friday (8:30 p.m./MagentaSport) the series of finals begins with the rested champions ALBA, who are still undefeated in the current playoffs and had defeated Bayern 3-1 last year.
For Bonn, second in the main round, the dream of reaching the final for the first time since 2009 and winning the first title in the club’s history was shattered.
Dominant FC Bayern only in the second quarter with problems
Before the clash with Berlin, which had quickly knocked out the MHP giants Ludwigsburg in the semifinals (3-0), the Munich team got off to a flying start. After a good five minutes it was 17:6, Bayern Honorary President Uli Hoeneß, as a guest in the stands, initially saw a dominant performance by the guests.
The picture changed completely in the second quarter, Bonn found its rhythm better and better, presented problems for Munich and made up for the deficit. The once again brilliant main round MVP Parker Jackson-Cartwright could hardly be stopped.
After the break, Bayern managed to pull away again. They scored well, Nick Weiler-Babb ensured a two-digit lead (77:66/34.) after a strong phase.
Bonn around his top scorer Jackson-Cartwright (25 points) braced himself against being eliminated, but was ultimately unable to create tension. The guests’ best thrower was Weiler-Babb (18).
FC Bayern had prevailed in the first two games of the series at the Telekom Baskets, but then gave away two match balls in the Audi Dome at home. The third sat, the gripping duel ended without a home win.