The FC Bayern basketball team pull it off and won the "NBA G League International Challenge" in Uruguay: In the final of the top-class invitational tournament, the German champions defeated the US team from the NBA G-League 93-84 (42:38) in front of 6,000 spectators at the Antel Arena of Montevideo. The Munich team thus ended the "BayWa Basketball Tour", which started in Miami, without defeat.
The BBL season starts for the FCBB in exactly one week, on Monday, September 30th (20:30), with a home game in the Audi Dome against Hamburg. The Bavarians will arrive back in Munich at noon on Tuesday, then the World Championship participants Vladimir Lucic and bronze medallist Mathias Lessort will also join the team.
Season opener: FCBB vs. Hamburg Towers
The final victory in front of 6,000 fans earned the team a trophy that weighs 15 kilograms.
"This is a very nice success for us at the end of a long journey, but the whole focus is now on the first game in a week," said coach Dejan Radonjic.
Point Guard Maodo Lo, who shone in the second half, thanked the hosts, "Everyone was very friendly to us, it was a relaxed, pleasant atmosphere. We made good progress as a group here."
Petteri Koponen said: "Of course we're tired, but that's normal in preparation, our team chemistry is already very good and we're happy about the cup we took with a complete team performance".
11,300 kilometers from home, the Bavarians had a lot of work to do to secure the 15 kilo gold cup. The start was good and Center Greg Monroe was used and showed his class and wit in the paint (17 points before halftime, 25 at the end). After a 12-8 lead the young professionals from the States turned up, quickly hit four threes and made it a run and gun affair with a score of 22-20 in favor of the US team after a quarter. The Bavarians attacked with their defense, went several times to the free-throw line and celebrated ahalf-time lead (42-38).
Shortly before the game, captain Danilo Barthel dislocated his shoulder and was no longer used. Leon Radosevic picked up the slack though and the FCBB had 56-47 lead after the break thanks to two threes by Koponen and a nice Alley-oop by Lo.
The US team wasn't impressed though and fought hard with skill and athleticism to take a 64-62 lead. Nihad Djedovic's three took the score to 83-70 which was the highest lead before Paul Zipser followed with an important tip-in to bring the score to 85-75. The final points were scored byyoungster Sasha Grant (17) with two free throws.
FCBB: King 3, Koponen 11, Monroe 25/9 Rebounds/4 Assists, Lo 12/5 Assists, Djedovic 14/4 Steals, Zipser 13, Nelson 6, Flaccadori, Barthel 1, Radosevic, Grant 2.
Upcoming schedule:
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)
NOTE: Photo credit (free of charge): NBAE/M. Singer
