The series of bankruptcies of German basketball champions ratiopharm Ulm in the EuroCup continues.
Coach Anton Gavel’s team lost against third-placed group U-BT Cluj-Napoca from Romania 81:85 (51:36), despite a long lead into the final quarter. For the Ulm team, who had already lost to bottom-placed Slask Breslau last week, it was the fourth defeat in a row.
“I did poorly and missed leading the team to success in the second half,” said Gavel, taking responsibility for the weak final quarter (15:30): “I have to get better,” said the coach. The best thrower for the Ulm team was LJ Figueroa with 17 points – Patrick Richard was outstanding for the Romanians with 27 points.
Ulm still remains in fourth place in the group of ten. With three games remaining and two wins ahead of seventh place, which would mean elimination, the team still has a place in the knockout rounds in its own hands. However, direct qualification for the quarter-finals via one of the first two places is a long way off – and there is also a risk of losing home advantage in the play-offs.