It is finally accomplished, FC Bayern Basketball is the German champion! Before 9,668 spectators in the Arena at Berlin Ostbahnhof, the team led by Pablo Laso triumphed on Friday evening after a long championship-worthy second half, winning 88:82 (44:46), and clinched the playoff final against Alba early with a 3:1 series victory. MVP Carsen Edwards scored 29 points for the 2024 double winners.
For FC Bayern Basketball, it is the sixth championship title in the club's history after 1954, 1955, 2014, 2018, and 2019, and their second double (2018). Exactly ten years ago, the Munich team celebrated their first modern-era BBL title with a 3:1 win in Berlin, also as winners of the regular season. The Munich team won the 2024 cup in mid-February against Ulm.
Alba Berlin - FC Bayern Basketball 82:88 (46:44)
- FCBB:Carsen Edwards (29 Points), Devin Booker (10/9), Leandro Bolmaro (10), Serge Ibaka (9/5 Rebounds), Vladimir Lucic (7), Sylvain Francisco (7), Isaac Bonga (6), Nick Weiler-Babb (6), Niels Giffey (4), Elias Harris, Andreas Obst, Niklas Wimberg
- Topscorer Berlin:Sterling Brown (25 Points)
- RefereeRobert Lottermoser, Anne Panther, Martin Matip
- Attendance9.668
Like on Wednesday, defense dominated at the beginning, with the first two three-pointers by Bolmaro for Bayern coming after about five minutes to make it 10:5. Both teams then picked up pace, with Alba excelling in transition in the second quarter, leading 34:24 by the 14th minute.
10-0 run to tie at 38:38
Bayern broke free from this crisis with a 10-0 run to tie the game at 38:38, thanks in large part to Francisco coming off the bench and organizing the run (18th minute). However, the trouble spot remained the defense, as Berlin scored too easily in the paint.
After the restart, the tide turned as the lead shifted back to Bayern. Edwards was unstoppable from downtown twice, and after Weiler-Babb's block against Brown, the score was 62:52 by the 29th minute!
After the break, defense stood tall
Was this the push towards the title? Bonga, Giffey, and Babb certainly kept the defense tight, while Edwards continued to score relentlessly. The teams entered the final quarter with Bayern leading 65:52. There, Bonga was particularly solid defensively. Ibaka's basket made it 76:62 by the 36th minute, and then Edwards' seventh three-pointer extended the lead to 81:67 by the 38th minute, quietly setting the stage for the big celebration behind the scenes.