In the end, not entirely unexpectedly, the power ran out: After five days of training, the Bayern basketball team lost its test game against the Italian first division team Reggio Emilia on Thursday evening despite a long lead. In the preseason quarters in Bruneck, head coach Andrea Trinchieri's team lost 76-66 without its four European Championship players and injured addition Isaac Bonga.
The top FCBB scorer was veteran Othello Hunter (15), who hit three threes - and the best news was the successful return of guard Corey Walden (11), who had missed months of the second half of last season due to injury.
In a very physical duel with the European Cup participant and good defensive moments for Bayern it took just under four minutes until the first Munich points through center Freddie Gillespie (who later slightly twisted his ankle and was rested after the break). The first lead came via Augustine Rubit (12-10/8th) and then 26-18 (15th), the Bavarians initially pulled away and were still ahead 51-48 after three quarters. In the last quarter, however, the Italians scored at a much higher rate.
The second test against Trento, also an Italian Serie A team, follows on Sunday in Bruneck. The season starts on October 1 with the BBL home game in the Audi Dome against Ulm.
FCBB: Walden 11, Winston 7, Hunter 15, George, Zipser 8, Wimberg 2, Harris 2, Rubit 10, Wulff, Tamulis, Sisko, Milosavljevic 5, Gillespie 2, Rebic 4.