FC Bayern Basketballers have won their first friendly of the season of the 2018/19 seaon against Italian league runners up Aquila Basket Trento 91:57 (49:33). In front of 1,200 spectators at a fully packed Pala Garda, the Bayern players knew that although they should’ve been tired from their hard preparations before the friendly, they needed to deliver a good offensive performance as they concluded their pre-season training camp in Trento, Lake Garda. Bayern’s top points scorer was Robin Amaize with 17 points.
Bayern started the game with Braydon Hobbs, Nelson Weidemann, Vladimir Lucic, Devin Booker and Danilo Barthelb but it was the Italian hosts who made the better start, opening up a 7:0 lead. Booker gave Bayern their first lead of the match with a shot from under the basket after five minutes (12:11). The game developed into an intensive affair with Coach Radonjic continually changing the players on the pitch. After an opening ten minutes dominated by offensive play, the German champions led 27:22.
Bayern improved their defensive play during the second quarter, provoking the Italians into losing possession and adding to their lead in fast breaks. The German double title holders, who gave early introductions to juniors Bruno Vrcic and Kilian Binapfl, deservedly led 49:33 at the end of the second quarter.
Bayern encountered some early problems in the first five minutes of the third quarter, Trento closing the gap on Bayern to 53:43 after 25 minutes. Braydon Hobbs and Robin Amaize responded with successful throws from distance to give Dejan Radonjic’s team a comfortable 67:47 lead going into the final quarter.
Although the result was already long in the bag, Bayern didn’t let up and continued to play well until the final buzzer. Braydon Hobbs even scored 8 points in just 60 seconds as Bayern comfortably won with a final score 91:57.
PHOTO: Braydon Hobbs (right)
Bayern had to play without Maodo Lo (rested because of a foot problem) and Milan Macvan (in recovery) as well as Petteri Koponen, who twisted his ankle in training on Thursday.
Overview of each quarter: 27:22, 22:11, 18:14, 24:10
Point Scorers for FC Bayern: Robin Amaize (17 points), Vladimir Lucic (12), Nihad Djedovic (12), Braydon Hobbs (11), Devin Booker (6), Marvin Ogunsipe (6), Danilo Barthel (6), Leon Radosevic (6), Stefan Jovic (5), Nelson Weidemann (5), Alex King (3), Bruno Vrcic and Kilian Binapfl
PHOTO: Vladimir Lucic