The FC Bayern basketball team won their second gane in the NBA G League International Challenge in Uruguay and are now in the semi-finals as group winners. In front of 5,500 spectators at the Antel Arena in Montevideo, the German champions earned an 80-72 victory over the Argentinian and reigning South American champions, San Lorenzo de Almagro. In the semi-final on Saturday (21.9., 23:30 German time) the Munich team will face the loser of the top game of the parallel group on Friday between the NBA G-League selection and the Uruguayan elite team.
To make it to the semi-final against the G-League team or Uruguay's selection the Bavarians needed a good start against San Lorenzo and had one starting the game with an early 14-8 lead. Some turnovers, however, kept the very physical opponent in the game. Nevertheless, with five points in-a-row from Paul Zipser Bayern took a 32-15 after 16 minutes of play. Center Greg Monroe was at some points unguardable. The FCBB defended strongly and did not allow Argentineans to score during a 16-0 run which lasted seven minutes. The poor free-throw percentage (15/27) was their one flaw.
The Bavarians also held a comfortable lead in the third quarter (50-34), before San Lorenzo went on a 19-6 run - and at the beginning of the last quarter was suddenly in front 61-59. A spectacular dunk from Zipser brought the equalizer and Monroe helped again to take a five-point lead, 73-68. Petteri Koponen, though well guarded, hit a three after Diego Flaccadori's excellent pass and this clinched the victory.
"We stood our ground against a very good team that has a good mix of experience, talent and even players from the World Cup finals," said Radonjic, who did not use Maodo Lo (thigh) and Josh Huestis (knee) (and Danilo Barthel only four minutes).
Monroe, the top scorer with 26 points, praised "I like the good attitude of the team, I'm getting more and more used to the team and the style of play".
"They wanted to play more physically and aggressively compared to the first game and that worked for us". Zipser also pointed out: "Although we are already tired, we made a step forward compared to yesterday".
FCBB: King 5, Koponen 15, Monroe 26/5 Rebounds/5 Assists, Djedovic 6, Zipser 11/5 Rebounds, Nelson 8/5, Flaccadori 2, Barthel, Radosevic 4, Grant 3.
FCBB Schedule.
September 10th - 24th: "BayWa Basketball Tour 2019"
NBA G League International Challenge (in Montevideo):
20.9. (23.30 German time), semi-final, FCBB - NBA G-League/Selection or Uruguay top team.
Mon, September 30th, 20:30: FCBB - Hamburg Towers (1st gameday BBL)
Thu, October3rd, 20:30: FCBB - Olimpia Milan (1st gameday EuroLeague)
Sun, October 6th, 15:00: Frankfurt - FCBB (2nd gameday BBL)
Thur, October 10th, 19:00: ZSKA Moscow - FCBB (2nd gameday EuroLeague)
Sat, October 12th, 20:30: FCBB - Braunschweig (3rd gameday BBL)
Thur, October 17th, 20:30: FCBB - Asvel Villeurbanne (3rd gameday EuroLeague)