EuroLeague quarter-finalist Bayern Munich is in the Bundesliga play-offs before entering the final of the German basketball championship. The former cup winner has a 2-0 lead in the semi-final duel with Telekom Baskets Bonn thanks to his second win on the Rhine within 48 hours with 82:81 (49:44) in the best-of-five series.
Othello Hunter secured the visitors’ victory with a free throw three seconds before the end of the game. In their first semi-final home game on Saturday, the team coached by Munich Andre Trinchieri can make the leap into the final perfectly.
After the false start in the semi-final series, Bonn went into the second game highly motivated. The hosts took the lead right from the start and have since increased their lead to up to six points. But then Bonn lost its rhythm, also because Munich got into the game better, turned the game around before half-time and pulled away by eight points by the beginning of the third quarter.
Alba against Ludwigsburg on course
Bonn fought against the preliminary decision in favor of Bayern in the race for a place in the final, but ultimately had to admit defeat in the final phase after taking the lead again.
Nick Weiler-Babb with 18 points and Andreas Obst with 17 points stood out in Munich’s team. Bonn’s best pitchers were Jeremy Morgan with 17 points and Javontae Hawkins with 16 points.
Bonn is in the last four for the first time since 2009. The Baskets have already been runners-up five times, but are still waiting for their first title win. Munich wants its sixth championship.
Last Sunday, defending champion Alba Berlin earned a 2-0 lead and the first match point to advance to the finals by continuing their winning streak in the second semi-final against MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg. In the event of its 17th success in a Bundesliga game next Friday in Ludwigsburg, the team from the capital would be the first finalist after beating former champions Brose Bamberg in the quarter-finals with another sweep.