It feels like an eternity, but more has yet to be accomplished: Only the first half of the extended EuroLeague season has been played, and on Wednesday evening, FC Bayern Basktetball will start the second half. On Matchday 20, the German champions will host Baskonia Vítoria at the SAP Garden. Like Munich, the Spanish team is one of six teams in the lower third of the table, each with six wins so far. The game starts at 8:30 p.m.
After a series of sold-out highlights at the SAP Garden, this time even last-minute fans still have a good chance of getting tickets. On Friday, FCBB must play away against title contender Olympiacos Piraeus, and on Sunday (6 p.m.) they will face Bonn at the BMW Park to extend their lead at the top of the BBL table.
Sixth Game in 13 Days
Personnel-wise, Bayern are hoping for the return of Isiaha Mike after recent muscular problems. Whether newcomer Neno Dimitrijevic is already an option, as well as Kamar Baldwin, who has returned to training after a two-month injury break, will be decided on game day.
Bayern took note of the offensive strengths of the team from the Basque Country, who are level on points, during the first leg at the end of November, when they were left without a chance in the 73:95 defeat after the first quarter (26:14) against the fast-paced, strong home team. “In Vítoria, we started well but then completely lost control,” recalls former Baskonia center Johannes Voigtmann. “We need to make up for that game. We’ve now won a few in a row and want to keep it going, especially at home. But Baskonia play very fast, have good shooters, and are also strong at the rim.”
Making Up for the First Leg
Baskonia are still waiting for a success away from home. However, French forward Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot is having an outstanding season overall and, with 19.7 points (45% three-pointers), is among the top five scorers in the EuroLeague. The US guards Kobi Simmons (10 ppg) and Trent Forrest (9.6 ppg, 5.6 apg), as well as three-point specialist Markus Howard (11.3), also need to be kept in check.
Coach Svetislav Pesic warns: “This is our sixth game in 13 days, which is really a lot. And Baskonia have found their rhythm, after needing some time at the beginning with a new coach. Now they play some of the most attractive basketball in the EuroLeague. They focus on transition and have very high quality on offense. We need to be well organized again in transition defense, because their big men are very athletic and fast. That’s why, with almost a 70 percent two-point rate, they are one of the best teams in Europe.”
In the ACB, Baskonia are currently seventh in the table (9:5), still somewhat behind their own expectations, but were able to win their home game against Andorra at the weekend after a 28:18 finish in the last quarter. Simmons and Luwawu each scored 19 points, and center Mamadi Diakite (5.6 ppg) had 15.