The Bayern basketball players won the opening game of the "NBA G League International Challenge" in Uruguay and are fighting for a group victory in their second game: In the first duel with the Brazilian runners-up C.R. Flamengo from Rio de Janeiro, the German champions played well and ended with an 80-72 win in front of 4,000 spectators in the new Antel Arena in Montevideo on Wednesday evening.
On Thursday (23:30 German time), the FCBB will meet San Lorenzo de Almagro, who recently won the continental Liga de las Américas. The capital city club has two World Cup silver medallists in Maximo Fjellurup and Augustin Caffaro, plus former NBA and EuroLeague pro, Esteban Batista (Atlanta, Panathinaikos, Efes). In the parallel group, the American elites of the G-League won 86-75 against the Capitanes from Mexico City. The first two in each pool will advance to the semi-finals on Saturday.
Nihad Djedovic had 17 points, on Thursday as the top scorer for the FCBB.
The Bavarians had a hard time against Flamengo in the first half, "we made too many mistakes, ten turnovers alone," coach Dejan Radonjic reported after the game. The spectators, including NBA legend Ron Harper (Chicago Bulls) in the front row, saw four points from the well-Leon Radosevic to secure the Munich team's lead during the break (34-30). After the change, FC Bayern fell behind because their aggressive opponent set the pace and was successful with quick attacks. The South Americans led 54-48 around WM participant Marquinos (16 points) and US professional Zach Graham (19). Alex King, however, equalled the score with five points in a row before two Petteri Koponen three-pointers brought the score to 58-53 after three quarters.
The Bavarians didn't panic after the fourth foul for Paul Zipser and Greg Monroe as well as a few unlucky whistles. Especially not Nihad Djedovic, who delivered two threes and a difficult lay-up to take a 76-69 lead with one minute to play. After an offensive foul, Danilo Barthel got a small cut which had to be sewn with two stitches by team doctor Bastian Torka. Josh Huestis (knee) did not play.
"That was a good victory for us", said the top scorer afterwards. "It wasn't easy to play against a South American team for the first time, it's also a new environment, many of us have never been here before. Besides, we are still missing two World Cup players (Lucic and Lessort). Our season starts on September 30th, until then we still have a lot to do, but such victories bring us further as a team".
FCBB: King 5, Koponen 6, Monroe 10, Lo 3, Djedovic 17, Zipser 4/6 Rebounds, Nelson 5, Flaccadori 7, Barthel 11, Radosevic 12, Grant.
PHOTO-CREDIT (free of charge): NBAE/M.SInger
FCBB Schedule:
10th - 24th September: "BayWa Basketball Tour 2019"
NBA G League International Challenge (in Montevideo):
19.9. (23:30 German time), FCBB - C.A. San Lorenzo de Almagro/ARG
Mon, September 30th, 20:30: FCBB - Hamburg Towers (1st gameday BBL)
Thu, October3rd, 20:30: FCBB - Olimpia Milan (1st gameday EuroLeague)
Sun, October 6th, 15:00: Frankfurt - FCBB (2nd gameday BBL)
Thur, October 10th, 19:00: ZSKA Moscow - FCBB (2nd gameday EuroLeague)
Sat, October 12th, 20:30: FCBB - Braunschweig (3rd gameday BBL)
Thur, October 17th, 20:30: FCBB - Asvel Villeurbanne (3rd gameday EuroLeague)
