"It's great to have them back"
Sat, 12/06/21, 06:43
Bayern with 1,300 fans behind them in 3rd playoff final against Berlin
Preparations are in full swing at the Audi Dome while everyone in the FCBB office is excited, and not just because of the 1-1 series after the first two playoff finals in Berlin. On Saturday, and thanks to the 76-66 victory at Alba on Thursday evening and on Sunday (15:00 in both cases), not only will the thrilling final series come to Munich but for the first time since March 4, 2020, spectators will also be able to support their team again. The authorities have allowed 1,300 fans, and the Saturday game was sold-out within 20 minutes by the season ticket holders. At the same time, a public viewing will take place on Saturday in the "Kino am Olympiasee".
"It's just nice to play with a crowd again after so many months," said team captain Nihad Djedovic ahead of Game 3, "the whole team is looking forward to it and I hope it will be a good atmosphere and that we can win."
"Now we finally have the fans back in the Audi Dome - we play for them all year. It's great to have them back."
Vladimir Lucic
Still a big question mark with Radosevic
There were just under 2,000 fans in the arena at Berlin's Ostbahnhof on Thursday night, but in the end the guests were jubilant. "It was not easy after losing the first game in the last minute and being in the final without Paul and Leon. But somehow we found the strength for this important game," said Lucic, the outstanding top scorer with a personal BBL-best 26 points.
Coach Andrea Trinchieri's short rotation also survived the tricky phase in the third quarter, when Alba took the lead for the first time after clearly trailing at the beginning (46-42). "We were more concentrated this time and defended very well, didn't allow them any easy shots," Djedovic said, "and on offense we played controlled most of the time and that's why we won in the end."
Bayern has regained the home advantage and only a fifth game would take place again in Berlin. In terms of personnel, the situation at the FCBB should hardly change as with Radosevic there remains a big question mark in view of his damaged left ankle.
Die Playoff-Finals 2021 (Stand: 1:1):
- Saturday, June 12, 15:00: FCBB – Alba Berin
- Sunday June 13, 15:00: FCBB – Alba Berlin
- Tuesday June 15, 19:00: Alba Berlin – FCBB *
* = when necessary