The basketball players of FC Bayern Munich Basketball won their 13th BBL game by a score of 80-75 in Bamberg and remain undefeated as they head into 2019. In the sold out Bamberg Arena with 6,150 fans, the German champions got off to a great start only 48 hours after their EuroLeague victory over Podgorica (93-88), before the hosts provided the expected close game after the start of the second quarter. Thanks to a gritty team performance - all players were used - the leader of the league, who has been in the lead since week one, was able to claim the well-deserved victory in the end.
2019 begins for Bavaria with a difficult road game in the EuroLeague at Anadolu Efes Istanbul (3 January, 18:30 CET). The home game tip-off for the new year will take place on January 6th against Bayreuth.
Points per quarter Bayern-Bamberg: 26-11, 13-26, 21-17, 20-21.
FCBB Stats: Nihad Djedovic (15 points/5 assists), Petteri Koponen (14/5 rebounds), Leon Radosevic (13), Vladimir Lucic (10) Maodo Lo (7), Stefan Jovic (7), Danilo Barthel (7/6 rebounds), Derrick Williams (5), Nemanja Dangubic (2), Braydon Hobbs, Alex King and Robin Amaize
Quotes:
Dejan Radonjic, FCBB head coach: "I am very satisfied with my team. Because only a few hours after the difficult game against Buducnost and despite some problems like with Jovic, who didn't practice the whole week, we won this difficult game. We started very well, but Bamberg played great in the second quarter. We finished the game in the last minutes without nervousness. Of course congratulations to the team."
Nihad Djedovic: "It was a very good rivalry game. Bamberg plays very well at home. We implemented everything we set out to do. In the end, we won, that's the most important thing. Today's game was comparable to one from the EuroLeague, because it was important to keep a high level of concentration. Here the experience from the EuroLeague helped us".
1st quarter
FCBB coach Dejan Radonjic started the game with the Starting Five Maodo Lo, Nihad Djedovic, Vladimir Lucic, Danilo Barthel and Leon Radosevic. The game started perfectly for the visitors: Barthel opened the scoring with a three from the corner and Lucic, Lo, again Barthel and Djedovic put the finishing touches on a 13-0 run in the first four minutes. Djedovic promptly responded to the Bamberger's first two points with a three and Lucic added on with two from the charity stripe. The hosts found their way into the game and scored eight quick points to bring the Bayern lead back down to earth at 19-11. In the last minutes of the first quarter, the Bavarians went on a roll again and finished the first ten minutes with a 7-0 run. Petteri Koponen scored a deep three to make it 26-11 after the first quarter. Dejan Radonjic's was great from deep (4/5 from beyond the arc for 80%) and didn't have a single turnover on offense.
2nd quarter
The game in the second quarter was not so great from Bayern's point of view and was more of the game that fans had expected before tip-off. After an 8-0 run for Bamberg Radonjic took his first time-out in the game. Out of the time-out Koponen promptly hit a three. However, the hosts defended more aggressively and hit their shots which they missed in the first quarter. In this phase Radosevic took over responsibility on the Bayern offensive and scored the next eight points for his team and helped maintain a double-digit lead for the visitors. With a final spurt, Bamber brought the game neck and neck at the half with a score of 39-37.
3rd quarter
Bayern came out of the locker room with an exclamation mark after the weak second quarter. Barthel assisted Derrick Williams perfectly who finished with a beautiful Reverse Alley-Oop. Two Lucic buckets continued the early successs in the half for Bayern as they attempted again to take a double-digit lead. Former Munich player Tyrese Rice hit a three at the end of the quarter to bring the Bambergers back within six points at 60-54.
4th quarter
Stefan Jovic who had been recovering from a minor injury had been quiet through the first three quarter but took over for the Munich club for the final stretch. The Serbian scored seven points between the 31st and 33rd minute and a 6-0 run in the final phase almost led to a sure victory before the hosts responded with an 8-0 run and thus ensured an exciting final few minutes. With 29 seconds left on the clock, Nihad Djedovic hit a huge three pointer from the corner - but the game was still not decided. A few moments later, Augustine Rubit again made it a one possession game. Bamberg then fouled Koponen, who hit both free-throws and secured the win for the undefeated club from Bayern.
Upcoming Games:
Thu, 3.1., 18:30: Efes Istanbul - FCBB (EuroLeague)
Sun., 15:00: FCBB - Bayreuth (easyCredit BBL)
Wed., 9.1., 20:00: Panathinaikos Athens - FCBB (Euro League)
Fri, 11.1., 20:30: FCBB - Olimpia Milan (EuroLeague)
Sun., 18:00.: FCBB - Frankfurt (easyCredit BBL)
Thu., 17.1., 18:00: ZSKA Moscow - FCBB (EuroLeague)
(Photo-Credit: Stickel & Rauchensteiner)