Even after the first week of training at their official summer camp on northern Lake Garda, including a test win over Italian vice-champion Trento (91-57), the intensity of the Bavarian basketball team remains high. "It's quite exhausting," said veteran Alex King quietly at the end of a long day on which the German champion's players still had two more training units. "After summer, the body has to work its way up again in these two intensive weeks, which are certainly the most difficult of the year. It's a lot to ask, but we are preparing for a very difficult season."
Dejan Radonjic's team of coaches also has to accept that some of them have to pay tribute to the strain in the meantime: "Sometimes the body falls into a hole or just needs a break, as Robin currently does". The mentioned Robin Amaize is currently forced to reduce his individual training (muscular problems) just as Milan Mavcan (5-5 start this week) and Maodo Lo (tendon irritation in the foot), while Petteri Koponen (bent) is completely out while being treated on his right ankle. But despite all the adversities that such a preparation entails, says "Axel" King, the atmosphere around the current training matches in Bruneck/South Tyrol is also excellent: "We have a really good group and a good atmosphere.
The next test match will be played next Wednesday at a charity event in Iserlohn.