The basketball players of FC Bayern Munich suffered their second defeat of the season in the Bundesliga. Against the surprise team of the season, - third-place Rasta Vechta - the German champions lost 93-75 but still remain the standings leader with a four-point lead. In front of 3,140 spectators in the sold-out Rasta Dome, Bayern did not find the necessary energy, especially in the defense to pull out a win. Early foul trouble and far too many turnovers (a total of 20) hampered the rhythm of the Bavarians, and Vechta also made use of free space to bang home 14 threes. The Munich team's top scorer was Derrick Williams with 21 points.
The Bavarians will next play at Kaunas in the EuroLeague on Thursday (March 14th, 19:00), where they will have another opportunity for the 13th win in the European premier class.
Points per quarter Bayern -Vechta: 20-26, 20-27, 16-25, 20-14.
FCBB stats: Derrick Williams (21 points), Vladimir Lucic (13, 3/4 three-man), Danilo Barthel (13), Nihad Djedovic (10), Petteri Koponen (8), Maodo Lo (5), Stefan Jovic (2, 7 assists), Leon Radosevic (2), Nemanja Dangubic (1), Braydon Hobbs, Alex King and Marvin Ogunsipe
Quotes:
FCBB head coach, Dejan Radonjic: "Congratulations to Vechta and their coach. They played a great game, they had more energy and a clearer focus over 40 minutes. Their victory is well deserved. So congratulations once again on this victory and on the season so far."
Petteri Koponen: "They played a great game, it felt like they hit 20 threes. They showed today why they are a top team in the BBL. The EuroLeague is no excuse. We didn't have our best game, that's why we lost. We have to improve because we want to become champions."
Maodo Lo: "They overran us and we were unprofessional. We didn't bring nearly as much energy as they did. The EuroLeague can't be an excuse for us and we certainly didn't underestimate this team. Vechta prepared well for us, but we knew exactly how they would play."
1st quarter
Coach Radonjic built on the top five of Stefan Jovic, Nihad Djedovic, Vladimir Lucic, Danilo Barthel and Leon Radosevic. The Bavarians didn't get off to a good start. The champions had to find another way to score besides from deep as they struggled to hit 2 of 8 shots from three in the first half and early foul trouble for Stefan Jovic and Vladimir Lucic helped doom this game from the start. The hosts, on the other hand, hit more than half of their th from downtown and were able to pull away to a seven point lead in the first quarter, 20-13. By the end of the first quarter, Koponen had reduced the gap to four points before Tyrone Nash made it 26-20 for Vechta after ten minutes.
2nd quarter
The FCBB also had problems in the second quarter. A steal though, from Jovic and fastbreak by Williams helped the Bavarians come back to three pointsback with six minutes to play in the half. But a little later the hosts started an 11-0 run, which brought the score to a frightening 47-34 for the home team. In the remaining minutes before half time, the guest did not manage to bring the gap within single digits and were behind 53-40 at the half.
3rd quarter
After half-time the hosts set the course for victory early: Only Vladimir Lucic was able to provide bright spots with three threes and keep his team partially in the game but still behind by thirteen with five minutes down in the third quarter. The Bayern defense hardly managed any stops and the offense wasn't much better so heading into the third quarter the defending champions of the BBL were down by 24, 70-55.
4th quarter
At the beginning of the final quarter the Bavarians showed that they weren't going to quit on this game, no matter the score and Lucic, Williams and Koponen started an 8-0 run to bring it to 79-63 but it was too late to force a tight game, especially as the visitors made far too many mistakes at both ends of the court and the standings leader swallowed their second loss in the BBL and will look to rebound on Thursday in a good way in the EuroLeague.
Upcoming games:
Thu, 14.3., 19:00: Zalgiris Kaunas - FCBB (EL)
Sun., 17.3., 15:00: FCBB - Central German BC (BBL)
Thu, 21.3., 20:00: FCBB - FC Barcelona (EL)
Tue, 26.3., 20:30: Würzburg - FCBB (BBL)
Fri, 29.3., 18:15: Darussafaka Istanbul - FCBB (EL)
Sun., 31.3., 16:30: FCBB - Ludwigsburg (BBL)
Fri, 5.4., 20:00: FCBB - Gran Canaria (EL)
Sun 7.4., 18:00: Frankfurt - FCBB (BBL)
Thu, 11.4., 20:00: Ludwigsburg - FCBB (BBL)
Sun., 14.4., 16:30: FCBB - Braunschweig (BBL)
Sat19.4, 15:00: FCBB - Crailsheim (BBL)
Sun, 28.4,.18:00: Berlin - FCBB (BBL)
Tue, 30.4., 20:30: FCBB - Bamberg (BBL)
So., 5.5., 15:00: Casting - FCBB (BBL)
Fri, 10.5., 20:30 FCBB - Ulm (BBL)
Sun, 12.5.,18:00: Bonn - FCBB (BBL)
Photocredit: Stickel & Christian Becker
