Back in Munich: After two tough away games with two frustrating losses, Bayern Basketball finally has home court advantage in the EuroLeague again on Thursday evening. At 8:30 PM, former Spanish champions Baskonia Vítoria-Gasteiz will visit the SAP Garden, where Munich, under head coach Gordon Herbert, boasts a flawless record so far (6-0). Support from 11,500 fans will be crucial once more, as the visitors, coached by former Bayern coach Pablo Laso, are on the rise after two unexpected victories.
On Tuesday, Baskonia handed the second-placed Fenerbahce Istanbul their fourth defeat with a convincing 88-76 home win. And just last week, Vítoria staged an incredible comeback in Kaunas in front of 15,000 spectators, erasing a significant deficit (41-57/27th minute) with a spectacular 31-13 final quarter to win 83-70. With this, Laso’s team now stands at 6-7 and has reentered the playoff race just in time for their matchup with Bayern (8-5).
However, Baskonia has struggled in their domestic league, where they sit in 14th place (3-6) after a poor start. On Sunday, the Basques suffered a heavy 91-116 home loss to Valencia.
Carsen Edwards and Bayern aim to secure their next home victory against Baskonia. | © FC Bayern Basketball
Laso's Return
"This is a game where we need to get back on our feet," said Herbert before the team flew back from Turkey on Wednesday afternoon. "We need a defensive response, and it’s good that we’ll be playing again at the SAP Garden in front of our amazing fans."
Laso, who returned to his hometown in the summer after winning the double with FCBB, now has sharpshooter Markus Howard back in action since the Fenerbahce game. The 25-year-old set an all-time EuroLeague record last season with 148 three-pointers but struggled for weeks to hit his shots from downtown. Against Istanbul, the U.S. guard (10.8 PPG, 29.3% from three) made his presence felt again, hitting five of nine from beyond the arc and scoring 17 points.
Another key player is center Chima Moneke, whom Vítoria managed to retain. He is the team's most effective player, averaging 13.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. Former FCBB guard Ognjen Jaramaz has played only a minor role so far, averaging just seven minutes per game and missing the Fener match altogether. New to the squad is center Donta Hall (9 PPG, 5.9 RPG), who was signed from Monaco. His athleticism could pose a significant challenge for Munich’s big men.
Cup Showdown on Monday at BMW Park
Defense is especially crucial, as it failed to reach the necessary intensity in the last two away games. "Our offense is not the problem," says Gordon Herbert, whose guard Carsen Edwards remains the top scorer in the EuroLeague with an average of 19.8 points (3.3 APG) heading into Game 14. Devin Booker (16.2 PPG, 4.8 RPG) ranks eighth on the scoring list.
Next week, Bayern will also have two home games: On Monday evening (8:00 PM), the team will face Rasta Vechta in a cup rematch at BMW Park, where the defending champions will battle for a spot in the Top 4. The EuroLeague action continues the following Thursday (8:45 PM/SAP Garden) against Maccabi Tel Aviv.
FCBB's Upcoming Games
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Thursday, December 5, 8:30 PM: 14th EuroLeague game day, FCBB – Baskonia Vítoria-Gasteiz (SAP Garden)
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Monday, December 9, 8:00 PM: Cup Quarterfinal, FCBB – Rasta Vechta (BMW Park)
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Thursday, December 12, 8:45 PM: 14th EuroLeague game day, FCBB – Maccabi Tel Aviv (SAP Garden)
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Sunday, December 15, 3:00 PM: 10th easyCredit BBL game day, Rostock Seawolves – FCBB
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Tuesday, December 17, 7:00 PM: 15th EuroLeague game day, AS Monaco – FCBB