After a gala performance, frightening favorites ratiopharm Ulm is only one win away from the sensational first championship title in the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL).
In the third final game on Wednesday, the Spatzen won against Champions League winners Telekom Baskets Bonn 112:84 (53:30) and were 2:1 in the best-of-five series. On Friday (8:30 p.m./Sport1 and MagentaSport) Ulm can now complete the surprise in front of their home crowd. “Of course it’s very frustrating,” said Bonn coach Tuomas Iisalo.
Karim Jallow (24) and Brandon Paul (23) were the top scorers for the hosts, who had previously thrown defending champions Alba Berlin and cup winners Bayern Munich out of the play-offs. Tyson Ward (24) knew how to convince the disappointing main round winner Bonn, who is also reaching for the first championship in the club’s history.
A few hours before the tip-off, the BBL provided clarity: Bonn’s center Michael Kessens remains suspended for the remaining final games after being disqualified in the second duel for assault. And in a fast-paced initial phase, the team of Baskets head coach Tuomas Iisalo then had to struggle with Ulm’s physique.
The hosts set themselves apart early with strong blocks and points from the free-throw line. Although Bonn equalized in the meantime (12:12/6th minute) – but led by the strong Jallow and with a good three-point quota, Ulm pulled away again until the end of the quarter (26:18) and worked up a two-digit lead in the second half, which went up to increased to 23 points at half-time. Bonn, on the other hand, made one misthrow after the other from the three-way line.
The one-sided gameplay continued in the second half. Ulm continuously increased their lead, played themselves into a frenzy and thus took revenge for last Sunday’s 75:104 smack.
ratiopharm Ulm – Telekom Baskets Bonn 112:84 (53:30). – Best pitchers: Jallow (24), Paul (23), Caboclo (20), dos Santos (14), Hawley (13) for Ulm – Ward (24), Shorts II (11), Malcolm (11), Herrera ( 10) for Bonn. – Spectators: 6000. – Play-off score: 2-1