Champion Alba Berlin has reported back after the opening debacle in the basketball playoffs. After a strong second half, the defending champion won the second quarter-final game at ratiopharm Ulm on Wednesday with 91:77 (39:47) and equalized in the best-of-five series to 1:1.
Champions League winner Telekom Baskets Bonn, on the other hand, achieved a clear 94:63 (38:33) win in the first of five possible games with the Niners Chemnitz.
After the 64:88 home defeat at the start of the playoffs, the Alba pros started better in Ulm. The champion of the past three years was 33:27 ahead after 13 minutes. As in game one, there was another phase of weakness unknown in the Bundesliga. The hosts took advantage of the Berliners’ mistakes and went into the dressing room with an eight-point lead.
Lead just before the end of the third quarter
Coach Israel Gonzalez’s team came out of the dressing room with significantly more momentum. Finally, long-range shooters Jaleen Smith and 20-year-old Italian Gabriele Procida were on target. Alba took a 59-58 lead just before the end of the third quarter, while Ulm ran out of answers.
In the final round, the Alba players showed their class and equalized the quarter-final series. Smith was the best thrower in Berlin with 18 points. The third game will take place on Friday (7 p.m. / Magentasport) in Berlin.
Main round winner Bonn had significantly fewer problems with the Niners from Chemnitz. The Saxons were only equal in the second quarter and were able to shorten the lead to 33:38. A strong third round (39:15) provided the Rhinelanders with the next sense of achievement after their triumph on Sunday in the Champions League.
Sebastian Herrera (24 points) and Player of the League voted TJ Shorts (17) were once again the standout players in Finnish coach Tuomas Iisalo’s team. Game two will take place again on Friday (8.30 p.m./Magentasport) in Bonn. (dpa)
