The course is set for an Upper Austria derby in the basketball semifinals. The two top Superliga clubs in the country lead their opening series in best-of-5 mode 1-0. After the Raiffeisen Flyers Wels had presented with a hard-fought 71:67 (29:34) home win over St. Pölten, the OCS Swans from Gmunden, who were in first place, followed suit and finished the Kapfenberg Bulls 93:65 (45:27 ) away.
“It was a real play-off battle – incredibly intense. We were lucky, but probably deserved to win,” said Wels trainer Sebastian Waser after a triumph of will.
The Flyers were trailing for much of the game – the score was 62-67 with three and a half minutes left. But then the people of Messestadt turned up the heat with a final 9-0 run. A three by Austen Awosika six seconds before the end made the hearts of the more than 500 spectators beat faster.
This was absolutely not for the faint of heart. A man like the 2.06 meter tall Lithuanian Arvydas Gydra loves such challenges. “You work towards these games in preparation and for a whole season,” said the 33-year-old, who put his stamp on the match with 20 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
US legionnaire Donovan Smith was also strong, scoring 19 points and picking five balls under the basket. “We have to keep up the momentum and approach game two with confidence. It was just one win – but an important one,” emphasized the 29-year-old. There will be a reunion with the Lower Austrians on Wednesday (8:15 p.m., ORF Sport+) in St. Pölten.
Dominant appearance
In the traditional duel of the five-time champion (Gmunden) with the seven-time champion (Kapfenberg), the “Korbjäger” from Traunsee started in front of 1263 eyewitnesses in the Raiffeisen-Sportpark, as they had planned.
They wanted to surprise the guests, who had moved into the knockout phase from the lower quality and slower qualifying round, with high-speed basketball. Said and done.
Led by Dominic Green, who made ten of his 19 points in the first quarter, and Urald King, who clinched 14 rebounds, the Swans were 24-9 after just nine minutes. It should continue in this tone. “We were ready and did it confidently. But it’s only 1-0, you can’t get megalomaniac now,” warns CFO Harald Stelzer.
Already on Tuesday (7 p.m.) we continue on Styrian soil.
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