There was no happy ending for FC Bayern Basketball: the 2021/2022 season ended with the final defeat against Alba Berlin for coach Andrea Trinchieri’s team without a title. The people of Munich have to start a new attempt from October.
BBL runners-up, the renewed qualification for the playoff quarterfinals in the EuroLeague, but also the early exit in the BBL Cup against Chemnitz – it was a season with ups and downs for the basketball players of FC Bayern. And an untitled one. After losing the fourth final game against Alba Berlin (81:96), first President Herbert Hainer and then trainer Andrea Trinchieri tried to quickly regain the sovereignty of interpretation.
Immediately after the game at Magenta Sport, Hainer spoke of a “good season” and was quite alone in that. After all, his team had the largest budget of all Bundesliga clubs, but the championship and cup once again went to the competitor from the federal capital. A national title was the declared goal and that was missed. “I’m satisfied, but next year it has to be more,” the President then added. In other words: The Munich team will reach for a title with power in the new season.
Trinchieri: “Been through a lot”
Andrea Trinchieri also complained about the circumstances last year: “We went through things that nobody noticed. That’s why I’m very proud of how my team stuck together despite everything – that was the great success of this season, that defines them,” said the 53-year-old.
Among other things, the Italian may have meant the injury misery that threw his team back again and again. In the finals against Berlin, four potential starting five players were missing: Vladimir Lucic, Leon Radosevic, Darrun Hilliard and Corey Walden. Previously, top performers had also failed again and again. A phenomenon that other teams also had to struggle with.
Euroleague hui, BBL Cup ugh
The early end of the cup against the Niners Chemnitz could not be explained by injuries, but third place at the end of the BBL main round behind Berlin and the surprise team from Bonn was more likely. The stress in the EuroLeague certainly played a part. In Europe, the Munich team showed their best performances this season. The tight quarter-final duel against FC Barcelona, which Bayern only lost in the decisive fifth game, will be remembered.
In the BBL playoffs, there was then first a smooth 3:0 against Chemnitzbefore you got stuck again. In the semifinals against Telekom Baskets Bonn After two away wins it looked like the deal was clear again, but the Rhinelanders then managed to win twice in Munich and forced Bayern in game five. In the final series against the defending champion (1:3), the team then only convinced in Game three in the 90:60 success in Berlin.
Alba Berlin celebrates its third championship in a row
Long, exhausting season
“They lifted the trophy and we’re trying to deal with the bitter feelings. This is sport, this is life. But that would be a superficial look at what happened,” Trinchieri said, pointing to Paul Zipser, who had to undergo brain surgery a year ago and Leon Radosevic, who was hospitalized during this year’s final series.
“I just hope this vicious circle ends because it started last year when the Paul thing happened. He’s back, but he’s not really back,” concluded Trinchieri. Bayern have completed over 80 games this season. The whole break will be spent on how to better prepare for such a long season in the Bundesliga and Euroleague.
