FC Bayern basketball players are in the final of the "NBA G League International Challenge" in Montevideo, the highlight of their BayWa Basketball Tour. The German champions won their semi-final against the host team of Uruguay in front of 3,500 spectators by a final score of 76-58. A convincing third quarter (26-9) was enough for the Munich team to clinch a spot in the finals. The FCBB had previously won their group games against South American champion San Lorenzo from Argentina and Brazilian runners-up Flamengo (both 80-72). In the final, coach Dejan Radonjic's team will face the favorites, the US team from the NBA G-League who defeated Flamengo 87-83 to earn their way to a matchup against their German counterparts on Sunday evening (23:30 German time).
Like the semi-final, the Montevideo final will be streamed live and freely available on MagentaSport's Facebook channel.
TO THE LIVESTREAM
Tipoff 23:30 this Sunday on the Facebook page
The Bavarians showed their weakest half of the tournament until the break against the Uruguayan elite team led by national coach Edgardo Kogan, which is equipped with Allstars from the domestic LUB (including four US pros). Bayern did not defend well, allowed six offensive rebounds (who won the duel on the boards 42-32) and also had little power in the attack. It was an 8-1 deficit after three minutes, before Greg Monroe managed the first basket. Two Petteri Koponen three-pointers regained the lead after the first quarter but Uruguay - trying to make amends after a 103-63 loss the day before against the US team - earned a 38-32 lead before the half.
The speech of Radonjic must have been on target and the Germans showed their qualities in the third quarter and not only on offense. With a 17-1 run they started to pull away and after Danilo Barthels three they took a 64-47 lead and the game was decided very early. "We finally defended well in the second half and showed that we were the better team," said Center Leon Radosevic.
The Bavarians - who in Montevideo were missing the World Championship competitors, Mathias Lessort and Vladimir Lucic in addition to Josh Huestis (knee) - have their opening game in the BBL in eight days (30.9.) in the Audi Dome against Hamburg.
FCBB: King 3, Koponen 9, Monroe 11, Maodo Lo 9, Djedovic 13, Zipser 3/4 Assists, Nelson 5, Flaccadori 2, Barthel 13/5 Rebounds, Radosevic 8/5, Grant.
The timetable of the Bavarians:
September 10th - 24th: "BayWa Basketball Tour 2019"
NBA G League International Challenge (in Montevideo): 22.9. (23.30 German time), Final, FCBB - NBA G-League
FCBB Schedule.
September 10th - 24th: "BayWa Basketball Tour 2019"
NBA G League International Challenge (in Montevideo):
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)
Photo credit (free of charge): NBAE/M.Singer
