The basketball players of FC Bayern Munich won a dramatic basketball thriller on the 26th BBL gameday. In front of 4,900 spectators in Frankfurt, the weary standings leader fell behind early on to Frankfurt but finally triumphed after two overtimes with a final score of 91-87. Due to the Oldenburg's lostt to Vechta, the German champions extended their lead to four games (three victories plus head to head). Maodo Lo, Nihad Djedovic, Danilo Barthel and Derrick Williams, who turned up the heat in the end, each scored twelve points.
On Thursday, April 11th at 20:30 the Bavarians will travel to Ludwigsburg before Braunschweig visits the Audi Dome on Sunday, April 14th at 16:30.
Points per quarter Bayern - Frankfurt: 21-26, 16-15, 15-19, 22-14, 6-6, 11-7.
FCBB stats: Nihad Djedovic (12/3 Steals), Maodo Lo (12/4 Assists), Danilo Barthel (12/5 Rebounds), Derrick Williams (12), Vladimir Lucic (11), Nemanja Dangubic (9, 6 Rebounds), Petteri Koponen (8), Leon Radosevic (7), Stefan Jovic (5/5 Assists), Braydon Hobbs (3), Alex King and Marvin Ogunsipe.
Quotes:
FCBB head coach, Dejan Radonjic: "After a EuroLeague game you can always count on unusual things. Our start was bad, no energy, no focus, and defensively we were really not good. It got better in the fourth quarter, but Frankfurt played very well and kept it that way for a long time. In the last minutes and then in the overtimes, we showed a better energy level, but if Frankfurt had won today, it would have been deserved."
Frankfurt coach, Gordon Herbert: "We played 30 minutes very well, that was one of the better performances we've had at home for a long time. But in the fourth quarter we had some turnovers, because the Bavarians increased their defensive pressure, and we missed free throws. All in all, our fight and our intensity were very good."
Maodo Lo: "We didn't underestimate them, we just weren't mentally prepared enough. The EuroLeague game on Friday was still a burden. In the second half we improved, especially defensively. The overtime is about a deep bench and quality to keep calm and win the game. That's what we did."
1st quarter
FCBB coach Radonjic started with Stefan Jovic, Petteri Koponen, Vladimir Lucic, Danilo Barthel and Leon Radosevic. Lucic scored the first points of the Munich team and the lead would bounce back and forth between teams that before the hosts went on a 9-0 run and took a seven point lead, 20-13. After the necessary time-out, Barthel was able to reduce the score to five points, before Lo with a successful And One and Braydon Hobbs with a three brought the score to 26-21 in favor of Frankfurt.
2nd quarter
Derrick Williams opened the second section with a bucket but the hosts once again found an answer with two finished of their own. The Bavarians came back to within three points after a successful trio by Koponen and free throws by Lucic, but got no closer in the first half. After 20 minutes the score was 41-37 for Frankfurt.
3rd quarter
After the break the defending champs suffered multiple turnovers which helped increase the lead of the Fraport Skyliners to double-digits for the first time and led Radonjic to take a time-out. It didn't get much better - Koponen fortunately finished the quarter with a three but Bayern was down 60-52 with ten minutes to play.
4th quarter
The Frankfurters opened the quarter with three straight threes, which led to the biggest lead of the game at 13 points. The Bavarians were able to shift up a few gears in the back and in the front and with a quick run came to within three points again.. After the hosts missed some free throws in the final minutes, energizer bunny, Maodo Lo brought the FCBB into overtime with a clutch bucket.
1st overtime
Nemanja Dangubic and Lo opened the first extra time: 77-74 for the FCBB and this was their biggest lead after 42 minutes of play. Williams missed a free-throw a good minute before the end, which allowed the Frankfurters to force the second overtime with two free-throws from Akeem Vargas.
2. extension
The final overtime opened again neck and neck with the 13th place Frankfurt determined to upset the champs. Afterwards, Nihad Djedovic took over responsibility and earned the 24th BBL win. A three and then a tip-in from the FCBB record player in the final minute took a three-point lead for the visitors. The Frankfurters took their last shot from the outside whick missed the mark and then they sent Dangubic to the line where he ended the game.
Photo credit: Stickel