Bayern grab their 13th win in Berlin

They were under some pressure—and they delivered: With a 99-84 (52-50) victory secured in the final quarter in the German derby against Alba Berlin, Bayern's basketball team achieved their 13th EuroLeague win and remain in contention for the postseason.

Edwards with 33 points

In front of 12,000 fans, Carsen Edwards stood out during Vladimir Lucic’s return, scoring 34 points and setting a new personal record. Andi Obst (21 points), Niels Giffey (10), Nick Weiler-Babb (8), and Oscar da Silva (9) also played impressively.

For the Munich team, this revenge match for their unnecessary BBL away loss marked the return of captain Lucic after 102 days. However, playmaker Napier was absent due to a flu-like infection.

In addition to Weiler-Babb, Obst was also tasked with bringing up the ball. The world champion came off the bench and witnessed a strong start: 15-6, with solid defense (6th minute). However, the structure at the back began to unravel with the first substitutions. Berlin drove to the basket and capitalized on Bayern’s eighth turnover, pulling ahead 35-39 (14th minute). In a high-paced game, Alba had too many opportunities in transition.

After halftime, defensive rebounding needed improvement, as Alba was getting too many second chances. The three-point shooting also became less frequent for a while, until Edwards hit a crucial shot (63-57, 27th minute). The top scorer was unstoppable for a stretch, attacking the basket aggressively and following up with outside shots—81-70 (33rd minute). The brilliant Obst (6/7 from three) and Giffey added to the lead, making it 88-72 (35th minute). This time, it was enough—and it was.

Quotes:

Gordon Herbert, Head Coach of FC Bayern Basketball:

“I think in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter, we showed a great response. It was back and forth for 30 minutes; Alba kept answering, but then we reacted brilliantly. Obst shot very well and made big plays. (…) Carsen told me before the game that he was tired—but he didn’t play like it. We played the entire second half and shortened the rotation; the guys really fought hard. He had strong moments, but his overall game was better today. Carsen didn’t just score; his defense was also solid. He was engaged and did a good job against Thomas. (…) We were too open defensively, and when we switched, we didn’t take away the post game well enough. We improved on that in the second half. (…) Oscar started because I thought he was a better matchup against Schneider. Secondly, we want to get him into rhythm, and he responded well. We also wanted to strengthen the second unit with Jo Voigtmann. (…) Having Lucic back in training alone changes so much. A few years ago, he was part of the All-EuroLeague First Team, but then he had injuries. He’s a high-level player with a high basketball IQ. He was out for three months, and his presence helps so much. With him and Giffey, we also have more size.”

Carsen Edwards:

“We won by 15 points? It never feels like that against Berlin; it feels like a three-point win with how back and forth it is. It’s good for us to have gotten this win. They can always gain momentum and hit shots. The win means a lot to us—every win does. We’re just happy that we won and that everyone stayed healthy. (…) We were able to get stops, especially on the road, and that dictates the momentum. (…) I don’t think about my points. I just try to take good shots, believe in myself, and do the right thing. There are things I could have done differently today, but I’m glad we won.”

Andreas Obst:

“When I’m open, I’m ready to shoot. I have confidence and felt good today. But it was a team effort; we shot well and made tough shots too. (…) Tough times are unavoidable during a season. You have to find a way out, work hard, and keep looking forward.”