It was a real coup: In the first game of the BBL playoff semi-finals, the MLP Academics Heidelberg duped FC Bayern Munich in its hall.
The Heidelberg basketball players have already written history at the end of May by moving into the playoff semi-final for 50 years. But the story is far from counted: in the first KO game in the round of the last four, the Academics prevailed after a strong performance with 95:90 near Bayern Munich. The reigning German champion had been a clear favorite in the match, especially in his own backdrop.
Bayern even looked like the safe winner for a long time. Despite the mixed performance, they settled to ten points after the break. But then Heidelberg turned up. The team, which almost relegated last season, fought back, kept their nerves in the final quarter and finally made the surprising away win perfect. Damariae Horne (26 points), Michael Weathers (23) and Marcel Keßen (17) were the winning guarantors for the Academics.
Head coach Danny Jansson: “Difficult to beat us”
Accordingly, the mood among the Heidelbergers was after the game. “Since we have been in the playoffs, I have the feeling that everything else is only a plus for us,” said Danny Jansson, head coach of the Academics. “There is something with these seven, eight boys, which simply clicks and works. In the end, of course we also hit some hard throws, which makes it difficult to beat ourselves. Now we have to relax and concentrate on game two.”
Marcel Keßen: “Can beat every opponent”
Similarly, the mood was the mood for the heavily played Keßen, which in addition to its 17 points also won eleven rebounds. “We had no pressure today, but we know that we can beat every opponent when we do our thing,” said the 28-year-old in the ARD interview. “Just nice that we won.”
What was crucial for Keßen was the attitude that the Academics showed. “We have a lot of self -confidence. We learned over the season that we have to keep a cool head and come back again and again,” he said. “If we play ourselves and work our defense, we can beat everyone.”
Elias Harris: “Momentum is clearly overturned on Heidelberg’s side”
At Bayern Munich, the mood after the home bankruptcy was in the basement. “The momentum is clearly overturned onto the Heidelberg side. They did it really well and fought it for over 40 minutes,” said Elias Harris, while FCB coach Gordon Herbert recognized: “Heidelberg played with a lot of confidence.”
The Academics now “only” have to win their home games to win the best-of-five series. “We have to continue, the Underdog role is lying to us,” Keßen looked ahead. “We just can’t get arrogant and think it runs on its own.” The best thing to do is already on Wednesday (8 p.m.) – then the second game takes place in Heidelberg.
Prize on Monday, 2.6.2025 6:00 a.m., SWR Current in the morning, SWR Current
