This placement round in the Basketball Super League and the fight for the best starting position for the play-offs can hardly be surpassed in terms of high tension.
Behind leaders Klosterneuburg there are four clubs with 20 points each. These include the reigning cup winner Raiffeisen Flyers Wels (78:69 against Graz) and the champion OCS Swans Gmunden, who returned to winning ways with a 92:78 in Traiskirchen after three defeats en suite.
This was also due to an outstanding performance by national players Daniel Friedrich (31 points) and Benedikt Güttl (17). “We wanted to get out of our slump and play hard. We were focused for over 40 minutes, it felt good,” said the latter happily.
But the team of the moment is the Flyers, who took the wind from the derby triumph in Gmunden and thrilled 700 loud fans in the Raiffeisen Arena with their third success en suite against Graz. Although the Styrians were extremely accurate from a distance, the Messestadt team, where rebound king Chris Ferguson made his comeback after a painful heel infection, kept their opponents to under 70 points with consistent defense. That was the key to success.
“That’s why we deserved to win, congratulations to my team,” applauded Wels coach Sebastian Waser. Arvydas Gydra recorded 19 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Captain Christian von Fintel (15 points) and Radii Caisin (13 points, seven rebounds, three assists) also knew how to shine.
“We implemented our match plan brilliantly and found answers to everything Graz tried,” said Caisin. Graz coach Ervin Dragsic paid tribute to the Flyers: “They played very strong and physical.”
win2day Superliga placement round: Raiffeisen Flyers Wels – Graz 78:69 (44:30). For Wels: Gydra 19, von Fintel 15, Caisin 13. Traiskirchen – OCS Swans Gmunden 78:92 (43:46). For Gmunden: Friedrich 31, Güttl 17, Moses 15, Emilien 15. Table: 1. Klosterneuburg 22/25, 2. Gmunden 20/26, 3. Graz 20/26, 4. Wels 20/26, 5. Traiskirchen 20/ 26, 6th St. Pölten 13/25
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