FC Bayern Munich's basketball players were beaten by Maccabi Tel Aviv on the tenth gameday of the EuroLeague by a final score of 95-71. It was their sixth defeat. Above all, the inferior rebounding (21-43) caused the issues for the guests. Top scorer for the Bavarians in front of 10,435 spectators was Derrick Williams with 15 points. In a week's time, the German Champions will continue at home: In the Audi Dome against the Russian representative Khimki Moscow on St. Nicholas Day (6.12., 20:30).
Points per quarter Bayern-Tel Aviv: 17-27, 12-20. 26-20, 16-28
FCBB Stats: Derrick Williams (15 points), Vladimir Lucic (11), Petteri Koponen (10/6 assists), Danilo Barthel (9), Nihad Djedovic (7), Devin Booker (6), Stefan Jovic (6), Leon Radosevic (4), Maodo Lo (3) and Nemanja Dangubic.
Quotes:
FCBB head coach, Dejan Radonjic: "Congratulations to Maccabi, they played very well. Our biggest problem today was rebounding and in the first half they grabbed13 offensive rebounds. That's too much, in the end it was 20. That's why we were clearly behind in the break. In the third quarter we showed up but that was too little."
Vladimir Lucic: "It's always difficult here in this witch's cauldron, they have the momentum after the coach change. You have to expect such a reaction. One of their strengths is offensive rebounding and we didn't box out. We didn't open the game well, we only played our game in the third quarter. But ten minutes are not enough against every team in the EuroLeague, especially Maccabi. But now we have to keep our heads up and improve again."
Ioannis Sfairopoulos, head coach Maccabi Tel Aviv: "We played very good defense and were able to control this good offensive team with our defense today".
1st quarter:
Stefan Jovic, Nihad Djedovic, Vladimir Lucic, Danilo Barthel and Devin Booker started for the Bavarians in Tel Aviv. Scottie Wilbekin, an old acquaintance scored the first points of the game - a three-pointer and it was a sign of things to come. On the Bayern side, it was Stefan Jovic who was the first to pour in a bucket. Bayern however, had huge troubles on both sides of the court so Radonjic was forced early to take a time-out after a big dunk by Tarik Black. It didn't seem to help and the rebounding was a coninuous struggle. The two Bayern rebounds were opposed by 14 for Maccabi. Petteri Koponen provided one of the few highlights in the Munich game, bringing his team closer again with a wonderful stepback three and the score to 21-13 for Tel Aviv. The first quarter ended positively when Maodo Lo scored at the Buzzer.
2nd quarter:
The second section was also unpleasant: Maccabi again scored the first four point and though Bayern had issues scoring they could still rely on Koponen for offense as he hit a very deep three to bring the score to 37-22 for Tel Aviv. But there was still nothing under the boards for the Munich team. Only three minutes before half time Vladimir Lucic secured the first defensive rebound for his team. Lucic also scored the last five points before half-time for Bayern. The Serbian earned all of these points at the free-throw line. After 20 minutes the hosts were clearly in front with a score of 47-29. Bayern only managed five rebounds in the first half, Maccabi 26.
3rd quarter:
After the break the Bavarians finally showed the necessary aggressiveness. After 20 seconds Jovic secured the first defensive rebound and in return Danilo Barthel scored the first points with a jump shot. The guests kept the intensity high and Derrick Williams started to really show up on offense. With a monster dunk and two open threes, the American helped bring things within reach at 60-45. Due to great % from outside, however, Maccabi initially retained the two-digit lead. However, Dejan Radonjic's men continued to show that they could do much better than they did before halftime. After Maodo Lo's missed mid-range shot, Devin Booker won the rebound and brought the Bavarians to just eleven points back. Lucic finished the quarter with a nice spin move on the baseline followed by a dunk and a score of 67-55 for Tel Aviv. The Bavarians were much more aggressive as a team with nine rebounds in the third quarter.
4th quarter:
The final quarter was again much less favorable for the Munich team: Maccabi hit their first two shots and though Booker responded directly with an Alley-Oop dunk from a Koponen pass. In the middle of the final quarter Angelo Caloiaro clicnched a win with a three and a big lead at 81-59. A little later, the Bavarians started another 7-0 run, but the rebellion came too late.
Upcoming games:
Thu, 6.12., 20:30: FCBB - Khimki Moscow (EuroLeague)
Sun, December 9, 18:00: Jena - FCBB (BBL)
Fri, 14.12., 20:30: FCBB - Zalgiris Kaunas (EuroLeague)
Sun., 16.12., 15:00: FCBB - Alba Berlin (BBL)
Wed., 19.12., 20:45: Armani Milan - FCBB (EuroLeague)
Fri, 21.12., 20:00: FCBB - Real Madrid (EuroLeague)
Sun, 23.12., 18:00: FCBB - Alba Berlin (BBL Cup)
Wed., 26.12., 18:00: FCBB - Würzburg (BBL)
Fri, 28.12., 20:30: FCBB - Buducnost Podgorica (EuroLeague)
Sun, 30.12., 20:30: Bamberg - FCBB (BBL)
(photo-Credit: Stickel)
