It will be a farewell party without mixed feelings: The Bayern basketball players will go into the 30th and last gameday of the EuroLeague (Friday, 5.4.) with the certainty that even another victory over Gran Canaria will not be enough for the playoffs. Nevertheless, the German champions consider their debut season in the new format of the premier class a success after putting together 13 wins, among them the memorable home victories against leaders Fenerbahce Istanbul and FC Barcelona and a big road win in Milan. "Of course we know we could have won two or three more games, but the first year was a great experience and we're determined to end it with a win," said FCBB captain Danilo Barthel. For the next two seasons, the Bavarians have already secured their right to compete in the highest European competition.
The home game against the Spanish representative Gran Canaria starts on Friday at 20:00 and will be "Girls Night Out" where there will be a Happy Hour and Welcome-Drinks for the first 300 guests in the Audi Dome (hall opening: 18:30).
The island club Herbalife Gran Canaria, which plays in the Spanish ACB, can also play stress free as the #14 team in the standings (8-21 wins, FCBB: 13-16). Two weeks ago, the play-off candidate Olympiakos learned what this can lead to in the big 90-67 road debacle. The top scorer at the time was Swedish marksman Marcus Eriksson with 24 points, who is now also his team's top scorer. And in the ACB, the strongest European league, the Berlin opponent in the EuroCup final, Valencia BC, was sent home with a final score of 111-92 by Gran Canaria thanks in large part to Eriksson with 26 points in a good 19 minutes (8/11 three).
"Compared to the first matchup they come with a new coach and new players, they have clearly improved," explained FCBB coach Dejan Radonjic. "But of course we want to say goodbye in front of our fans with a victory in the EuroLeague and show up with a good game. This is also important for our future path and the development of our form in the direction of the BBL playoffs". The first matchup was won by the Bavarians, who had just qualified as the first team for the champions' round in their home competition, after a nice road win, 89-74.
FCBB-Guard Braydon Hobbs concluded: "We want to finish the EuroLeague season as well as possible on Friday and hopefully we will be able to win in front of our fans. With 13 wins, we even surpassed our goal, even though in the end we couldn't make use of the opportunity to make the playoffs."