The FC Bayern München Basketball team won their first game in front of their home crowd against Rasta Vechta with final score of 79-66. In front of 6,048 spectators in the Audi Dome, the Bavarians had the recent BBL risers under control for long distances, although communication problems led to 18 turnovers and the guests two minutes before the end made things close. A brilliant 10-0 final sprint in crunchtime, however, finally ensured clear conditions and the second win of the season. Captain Danilo Barthel was the top scorer with 23 points. Nihad Djedovic sat this one out due to back problems.
Points per quarter Bayern - Vechta:
21-13, 17-13, 18-18, 23-20.
Bayern stats:
Danilo Barthel (23 Points/ 7 Rebounds), Devin Booker (15/7 Reb), Maodo Lo (10), Petteri Koponen (9), Stefan Jovic (8/6 Assists), Vladimir Lucic (7/8 Reb), Nemanja Dangubic (5), Marvin Ogunsipe (2), Braydon Hobbs, Alex King, Leon Radosevic and Robin Amaize.
Quotes:
FCBB head coach, Dejan Radonjic: "Vechta played very well against us today, they had a lot of energy. It was important for us to win. But we made a lot of mistakes and have to keep working on ourselves."
Pedro Calles, head coach of Vechta: "I think we didn't play badly. We decided to be better later in the game than before. We managed to do that against a strong opponent. We had problems under the basket and with the defensive rebounds. On offense we have to work harder to get more chances. In the end, we made it too easy for our opponents. But sometimes the result is not so important, but the way we played basketball. Today was such a game. Congratulations to FC Bayern München Basketball on their victory and good luck for the BBL and EuroLeague season."
Danilo Barthel, captain of the FCBB: "Of course we had a hard preparation and trained hard. But that can't be an excuse not to get it on the floor. We need to find a way as soon as possible to do better on defense."
1st quarter:
FCBB coach Dejan Radonjic relied on the starters Maodo Lo, Vladimir Lucic, Petteri Koponen, Danilo Barthel and Devin Booker for his home debut. At the beginning, the Bavarians revealed slight communication problems, which manifested in turnovers but in the middle of the first quarter they got going and rolled over Vechta with a determined 12-0 run and led 18-7 with three minutes to play. The Munich team switched lively on defense in the first quarter, which eventually ended 21-13 for the Bavarians. Eleven of their twelve players were used.
2nd quarter:
For the first points in quarter number two, the spectators had to practice a little patience, as both teams did not want to score over the first two minutes. FCBB captain Danilo Barthel delighted the fans of the Reds with a tip in to bring the lead to 23-13. FCBB did not manage much in the front court but the defense was quite good, so the visitors were always kept at a double-digit distance. Newcomer Petteri Koponen, a three-point specialist, scored from deep and brought the lead to 13. Maodo Lo increased the score to 38-23 with a beautiful layup on a finger roll and at half time Bayern led 38-26.
3rd Quarter:
Vechta came energetically and impudently from the locker room and shortened the lead to 38:30. Stefan Jovic stole the ball and helped pull off a 7:0 run for Bayern with a big dunk, which caused guest coach Pedro Calles to call a time-out 48-35 with four minutes to play. However, the interruption did not stop the BBL master's push and Devin Booker and Petteri Koponen contributed three-pointers and raised the lead to 54-35. The visitors showed character and did not surrender to their fate without a fight but held off with a 6-0 run to 56-44 as the quarter ended.
4th quarter:
Bayern turned the ball over at the beginning of the final quarter, Vechta used the chances courageously and came closer and closer before Stefan Jovic hit a clutch three exactly at the end of the shot clock. The game was now really tight and exciting and the fans were back in their seats and paying full attention. Two minutes before the end of regulation, the Munich team only led by three points 69-66 and FCBB coach Radonjic asked for time-out. The fans had risen to support the team - with success: Impeccable defense in crunchtime prevented any further points for Vechta, at the same time the residents of Munich spurred with a 10-0 run to the 79-66 highly deserved victory.
Upcoming games:
Sunday, 7.10., 15:00 CEST: FCBB - Gießen (cup round of sixteen)
Thursday, 11.10., 20:30 CEST: FCBB - Anadolou Efes Istanbul (Euroleague)
Sunday, 14.10., 15:00 CEST: Braunschweig - FCBB (BBL)
Tuesday, 16.10., 20:30 CEST: FCBB - Athen (Euroleague)
Thursday, 18.10., 21:00 CEST: Barcelona - FCBB (Euroleague)
Sunday, 21.10., 18:00 CEST: FCBB - Bonn (BBL)