The Bayern basketball team ended their two-day bus trip to Slovenia with a test game defeat: In Ljubljana, the Munich team lost 82-65 to the ambitious capital city club Cedevita Olimpija in front of 500 fans in the Stozice Arena. Head coach Andrea Trinchieri did not play his Slovenian playmaker Zan Mark Sisko, who returned to training this Thursday after suffering a groin injury. Top scorers for the FCBB were Nick Weiler-Babb (14), Nihad Djedovic and Jalen Reynolds (12 each).
Bayern will have their next preparation game on Saturday in the Audi Dome against the French top team AS Monaco, where spectators are currently not allowed.
"We were terrible. Am I worried about that? No, I'm not."
Coach Trinchieri preferred a clear analysis afterwards: "We are still terrible," said the Italian in a very calm voice before the five-hour drive home. "The best thing is that if you crash against the wall, you can do better afterwards. Today we crashed into the wall. We're not a team yet; we don't have a team performance yet and we don't have an individual one either. There is still a lot to do." The 52-year-old's closing words: "But am I worried? No, I am not worried."
In Ljubljana, Bayern were not yet able to match the very physical game of the up-and-coming EuroCup and Adria League team in the second quarter (25-12). After a deficit of 22 points (61-39/26.), the guests fought their way up to within nine points in the final quarter (71-62/35.). But the visibly well-practiced Slovenians were able to rely on their already established mechanisms, while the Munich team still has to work on both ends of the court.
The FCBB were pleased that the experienced player Nihad Djedovic, who had been missing for about six months in the previous season, managed 30 minutes of play without complaints. Weiler-Babb, one of five players still to be integrated into the new Trinchieri system, also hit four threes in six attempts. Center Reynolds also had some good looks. Of the youngsters, Sasha Grant was alone in seeing the court.
FCBB in Ljubljana: Weiler-Babb (14), Baldwin (7), Bray (4 Assists), Reynolds (14/6 Rebounds), Thomas (5), Lucic (2), Flaccadori, Djedovic (12), Zipser, Johnson (6), Radosevic (6), Grant (1).
The preliminary preseason plan of FC Bayern Basketball:
September 12: FCBB - AS Monaco Basket
15-16 September: EuroLeague tournament in Valencia; including Valencia Basket - FCBB (15.9., 20:00)
19 September: ratiopharm Ulm - FCBB
24 September: FCBB - Brose Bamberg
26 September: FCBB - BG Göttingen