Alba’s Johannes Thiemann tries to assert himself against Thomas Klepeisz from Ulm Photo: City Press
By Nicolas Sowa
Bad false start from Alba in the playoffs!
The defending champion surprisingly started the quarter-final series with a clear home defeat. After a desolate offensive performance, the defending champion lost 64:88 (44:42) at home to ratiopharm Ulm on Sunday.
The second game takes place on Wednesday in Ulm, three wins are necessary to advance. The best Berlin throwers were Johannes Thiemann with eleven and Maodo Lo with ten points in front of 9134 spectators. Yago Mateus dos Santos scored best for Ulm with 24 points, Bruno Caboclo scored 16 points.
Albas Jonas Mattisseck tries to stop Ulm’s top scorer Yago Mateus Dos Santos. The Berliners rarely managed to do that. The Brazilian scored 24 points Photo: City Press
The second in the main round initially found it difficult to find the playoff mode. Ulm was more aggressive, more attentive and mentally faster and quickly led 14:7. Alba allowed the guests too many offensive rebounds and thus repeated second chances to throw. In the end, the hosts found it very difficult against tight covering guests.
Playmaker Tamir Blatt made his comeback after injuring his right thumb. After a week-long break, however, he was unable to do much Photo: City Press
But that got better in the second quarter – especially under the basket, we were able to assert ourselves more often. Alba regained the lead and pulled away to 35:28. But Ulm countered with a 10-0 run. The game stayed even until halftime.
After the break, Alba seemed more focused and took a 50:44 lead. But then hardly anything succeeded, which Ulm punished immediately.
In the last quarter, Alba literally fell apart and was really shown off. For almost six minutes not a point was scored and Ulm pulled away to 76:54. The game was decided early on.