Telekom Baskets Bonn won the top game of the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) against Alba Berlin on Tuesday evening (April 25, 2023) and took the lead in the table ahead of the Berliners. The direct comparison between the two top teams now also speaks in favor of Bonn, who have the best chance of finishing the main round in the coveted first place.
The Telekom Baskets won the summit meeting with 84:77 and replaced Alba at the top of the table. The Bonners now have 28 wins and two defeats, Berlin (29:3) slipped to second place. The defending champion has two more games to play, Bonn even four.
Bonn now in first place ahead of Alba
After the 81:76 victory of the Berliners in the first meeting, the Bonners also won the direct comparison by winning with a 7-point lead. Berlin now has to hope for two slips by Bonn to knock them out of first place after the main round. The top regular-season team enjoys home advantage in the playoffs up to a possible fifth game in the finals series.
“We’re happy to be top of the table, but even more happy that we performed as a team today“, said Bonn’s veteran Karsten Tadda, whose team celebrated their 15th league win in a row. “We always had our problems against Berlin, today we solved them. That gave us even more self-confidence.“
Berlin against Munich probably already in the semifinals
Before the game, the Berliners had declared first place as their goal, also to avoid a possible duel with their permanent rival FC Bayern in the playoff semifinals. Munich are in third place, if the current situation were to remain the case, the two top teams of the past few years would meet in the semi-finals of the playoffs this time.
However, Telekom Baskets Bonn underlined their ambitions for the title in the top game against the champions. The Bonners played with high intensity from the start, especially in defence, and hardly gave the Berliners any good throwing opportunities. Alba allowed too many offensive rebounds and lost possession too much. Bonn went into half-time with an eight-point lead, Sebastian Herrera increased the lead to 15 points in the third quarter.
Berlin comeback in the third quarter, Bonn strikes back
The game remained hectic and very physical, especially on the part of the hosts. in the final quarter, the Berliners countered with more energy. Maodo Lo and Jaleen Smith started an 11-0 run five minutes into the game, bringing the champions within two points. But Bonn struck back again: first Luke Sikma, who stopped Leon scratch on his way to the basket, was accused of a deliberate foul, Karsten Tadda extended Bonn’s lead from the free-throw line again. Then Tyson Ward blocked Maodo Lo’s attempt to throw, Javontae Hawkins spectacularly completed the fast break – the game was decided.
6,000 fans in the sold-out arena at Hardtberg celebrated the new leader from Bonn, where TJ Shorts was once again the top scorer with 20 points. The best Berlin throwers were Jaleen Smith (17 points) and Ben Lammers (13).
Ulm defeats Oldenburg
Ratiopharm Ulm celebrated an important victory in the race for entry into the playoffs. After the defeat in Chemnitz, Ulm celebrated a 97:84 win against EWE Baskets Oldenburg and maintained seventh place in the table. Oldenburg remains in fourth place. Ulm’s Thomas Klepeisz was the top scorer of the game with 23 points.
Braunschweig wins basement duel against Frankfurt
At the other end of the table, the Basketball Löwen Braunschweig won a potentially decisive duel in the fight against relegation against the Fraport Skyliners 86:71. Braunschweig, in 16th place just above the line, increased their lead over the penultimate team from Frankfurt to two wins and, on top of that, won the direct comparison. With three games left, it will be difficult for Frankfurt to leave the 17th relegation zone.