The hard top of the Audi Dome shines in the new Siegmund look and is cleaned and ready to go: The Bayern Basketball team starts the new season this Saturday, hosting southern rival Ulm in the Bundesliga opener at the Audi Dome starting at 18:00. Like the Munich team, the Swabians have not had an easy preparation, but they come to the Westpark with a guide who knows his stuff: the new head coach is the FCBB captain of the 2018 double winners, Anton Gavel.
The German-Slovakian has taken over as coach from Jaka Lakovic, who has left for the Spanish ACB after three years (Gran Canaria). "Tono" Gavel took his first steps in the coaching job after his career ended in Munich, taking charge of the Ulm farm team (ProB) in 2019. After interim assignments in the preseason, his career as a BBL coach now begins at the Audi Dome.
"Begin with a win"
The Ulm squad also underwent massive changes, with FCBB's own Karim Jallow, the long-injured Philipp Herkenhoff, Thomas Klepeisz, young playmaker Fedor Zugic (19) and Nicolas Bretzel remaining with the southern-German team. Guard Juan Núñez comes over from Real Madrid's talent factory, Robin Christen from Hamburg and US center Devin Robinson (most recently in Taiwan) as well as former Frankfurter Matt Mobley and Brazilian international Yago Mateus dos Santos fill other international positions. For Ulm, it is the first season after the departure of Per Guenther, who did not remain at the club but moved on to Hamburg.
Bayern also opened their BBL season against Ulm a year ago, but then with a short bench - the duel was the first of a total of 52 Bayern games marred by Corona infections in players. The score was 86-83 in favor of Ulm in overtime in front of 3,100 fans at the end of September. This time, the Audi Dome will be even more packed despite the last Oktoberfest weekend - and the Munich team wants to win, although national player Isaac Bonga (rebuilding after foot surgery) will still be missing.
"We want to start the season with the right attitude and with a win," stressed captain Vladimir Lucic, "we want to build a winning mentality for the team early this season." Coach Trinchieri said: "The first game is always difficult. Ulm also had problems in preseason and I myself don't have a clear picture of what my team is capable of at this point. But I believe that it is a must to start the season with the greatest possible energy. To show the fans that they have a team worth watching."
Monday in Frankfurt, Thursday vs. Fener
The team is now back in action: The second BBL gameday in Frankfurt will take place on Monday (Oct. 3, 17:30) before Fenerbahce Istanbul (with Wilbekin, Calathes, Bjelica and coach Itoudis), which has undergone a spectacular rejuvenation, comes to the Audi Dome on Thursday (Oct. 6, 20:30). The following Sunday, FCBB will face Chemnitz at home (Oct. 9, 18:00).
"First Ulm, just 48 hours later away in Frankfurt, and then Fener at home on Thursday," recaps Trinchieri, who now also has European Championship bronze medalists Andreas Obst and Nick Weiler-Babb back in training. "I think this is a good way to come into the season. We won't be ready yet, but we will at least try our best."
The FCBB Streaming and TV
MagentaTV and MagentaSport will again show all Bayern's games in the BBL and EuroLeague live this season. For everyone with a Telekom contract, the big sports package with basketball (more than 700 games), soccer (3rd division, women's) and ice hockey costs EUR 4.95 in an annual subscription, and EUR 9.95 for everyone else.
Sport1 will also once again broadcast selected games on free TV, such as Bayern's first away game next Monday in Frankfurt at the Skyliners.
Completely electric fleet thanks to Audi
As in the previous season, FC Bayern Basketball is one of the very few top teams in Europe with an all-electric vehicle fleet, thanks to its principal partner Audi. Charging stations are available to players and coaches directly at the Audi Dome. "It's a clean and sensible thing to do, plus the e-cars are a lot of fun," says FCBB forward Paul Zipser, commenting on the new special cooperation.