Last year, Bayern and Alba watched the basketball final from the couch. Now they are back – with very different circumstances.
The top teams are back! After the surprise final between ratiopharm Ulm and Telekom Baskets Bonn last year, Germany’s basketball heavyweights have re-equalized the balance of power. Bayern Munich against Alba Berlin is the final series from this Saturday onwards – for the sixth time in the past ten years, the two Euroleague teams will be fighting it out for the championship. “It’s always nice to see the so-called German classic in the final,” said Bayern’s world champion Andreas Obst.
Last year, Ulm first eliminated Berlin and then Munich on the way to the title. And this season, the path to the final was not a sure thing for the top favorites. Bayern had to endure a moment of shock in the quarterfinals and lost game one against the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg. Alba had to push itself to the limit against the Niners Chemnitz and only made it to the final on Thursday evening with a 97:84 win in game five.
Bayern well rested for the final
The Bavarians were able to follow the action in Berlin’s Uber Arena from the comfort of their couches. The star ensemble from the Isar had a five-day break before the first final this Saturday (8.30 p.m./Dyn) in Munich, while Alba had just around 48 hours to regenerate.
This is another reason why Bayern are going into the series as favorites. In addition, the Munich team has won three of four duels in the championship and the Euroleague so far this season, some of them by a clear margin – only in the last main round match of the Bundesliga, which was meaningless in sporting terms, did the Munich team give away victory in Berlin.
Nevertheless, the Munich team is being warned about the showdown. Berlin is written off from time to time, Obst reminded us on Friday. “But they are a team that works well and can always hurt you. We have to be ready for that as a team.”
The fact that Alba was still challenged on Thursday evening does not have to be a disadvantage. “A victory like this can spark great euphoria and solidarity.” And Munich’s experienced coach Pablo Laso even said: “Usually a team that is in the flow is faster in rhythm and plays better.”
Alba bosses praise mentality
At Alba, they are happy that the team made it to the final again despite all the adversities. “I am very proud of the team. We had to go through a lot this year, had a lot of problems. But the team had the capacity to fight against all adversities,” said coach Israel Gonzalez.
The capital city team played against Chemnitz with practically the last squad. Without four injured players, without a trained point guard. And world champion Johannes Thiemann suffered from knee pain throughout the entire game. At halftime he could no longer move because of the pain. “He suffered and cried, was completely destroyed,” reported sports director Himar Ojeda. But the captain gritted his teeth and underlined the impressive Berlin mentality.
Bayern star Ibaka makes people laugh
For Bayern’s NBA veteran Serge Ibaka, everything is open in the series. What has happened so far no longer plays a role, said the 2019 NBA champion. “Anything can happen,” warned the Spaniard. The experienced center emphasized that a final has its own dynamic. He made a small slip of the tongue when he said: “This is the NBA final…” Teammate Obst corrected Ibaka with a grin at the press conference: “It’s the BBL final.”
Source: Stern
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
