Tabellenführer Hapoel zu stark für Bayern

In the EuroLeague, FC Bayern Basketball will need a new attempt at stopping their negative series in 2026: The heavily reinforced EuroCup winner and EuroLeague leader Hapoel Tel Aviv proved to be a tough opponent for a fresh start under coach Svetislav Pesic on Tuesday evening. Against the team from Israel, the German champions lost 72:82 (32:44) in front of 11.500 fans despite a strong final push. The team, led by the impeccable Andi Obst (18 points), now heads into the new year with a 5:13 record.

Merry Christmas! 🎄

Nevertheless, FC Bayern Basketball wishes everyone a peaceful Christmas. On the second day of Christmas, FCBB will already have to defend their top spot in the BBL in Frankfurt.

Pesic was welcomed with a 0:7 run and a technical foul; the favorites, even without Micic (shoulder), executed their plays and grabbed offensive rebounds. Bayern’s three-point-oriented game was still missing its first basket, resulting in a 14:21 score after the first quarter.

Full boxscore

A 0:16 run decides the game

The second quarter began with the first basket by Jessup, but Hapoel’s physicality in the paint continued to dominate (17:29/15th minute). Two steals and good plays on offense finally got Bayern going – 26:30 (17th minute). Then: a 9:0 run by the stoically productive guests, resulting in a clear deficit at halftime.

Tel Aviv controlled Munich’s offense with their switch defense. Bayern’s own defense, on the other hand, needed to step up, but turnovers and too little resistance under their own basket meant only brief positive moments: from 39:46 (22nd minute) onward, Bayern conceded a 0:16 run.

Positive final quarter

Bryant & Co. did not let this lead slip away. Nevertheless, Bayern kept trying; McCormack brought energy and points off the bench. When it was all over, the hosts had their best phase and, with fighting spirit, avoided a heavier defeat. Perhaps a starting point for more self-confidence after now nine consecutive games without a win.

Quotes: 

Svetislav Pesic, head coach FC Bayern Basketball: “Sometimes I had the feeling that Hapoel was playing five against zero. The opponents need to feel that we are there, our physicality. The second half was a bit better, but our task is to improve our defense for the next games, whether in the BBL or EuroLeague. We are too comfortable. We had only three fouls in the last quarter, but we want to win the game. That’s impossible. Fouls are important, they are part of defense. We need to use that. (…) Hapoel is in a good rhythm; when you win so many games, your self-confidence improves. We ourselves need to get out of our comfort zone quickly. But not with offense, rather with physical defense. We allowed them ten offensive rebounds in the first ten minutes. We have to control that. (…) We’ll see how things go in Frankfurt. We can’t wait until the Maccabi game. (…) The attitude from everyone wasn’t bad. I’m pleased with how David (McCormack) came off the bench late and tried everything. Frankfurt is our next task. We want to win the game and organize our defense better.”

Justus Hollatz: “It was a very frustrating game. In the first and third quarters, we couldn’t get into our offense at all. Only at the end did we do well, when Hapoel switched everything, that’s when we found our chances. But you have to say that we fought at the end, which we haven’t done in recent weeks. That’s the only positive thing. (…) Coach Pesic told us to play with pride and play hard. Of course, he’s only been here one day, he only changed and adjusted small things. But when we have some training days, more can be done. (…) We hardly train, we play every other day. The mood isn’t good, we’ve had tough losses, unnecessary losses. When you’re in a streak like this, it’s hard to get out of it. We need a success in the EuroLeague, then a lot of things will get easier. Hopefully right away on January 2 against Maccabi.”

Next games:
 

• Fri., December 26, 8:00 PM: 12th easyCredit BBL matchday, Skyliners Frankfurt vs. FCBB (Dyn)
• Sun., December 28, 6:00 PM: 13th easyCredit BBL matchday, FCBB vs. VET-CONCEPT Gladiators Trier (SAP Garden)
• Wed., December 31, 2:00 PM: 14th easyCredit BBL matchday, Rostock Seawolves vs. FCBB (Dyn)
• Fri., January 2, 9:00 PM: 19th EuroLeague matchday, FCBB vs. Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (Magenta Sport/SAP Garden)
• Sun., January 4, 6:00 PM: 15th easyCredit BBL matchday, Basketball Löwen Braunschweig vs. FCBB (Dyn)