The FC Bayern basketball team won their third straight game in the first week of the new season this one by a score of 81-77 in Frankfurt. In front of 4,300 spectators the German champions had a hard time against the Frankfurt zone defense in the first quarter and were behind 22-8 eartly. During the whole game they had problems controlling Lamont Jones (26 points). Thanks to increased intensity in the second half and an outstanding Petteri Koponen (17 points, 5/5 three), the Bavarians finally prevailed.
Next Thursday, the FCBB will visit the EuroLeague defending champions ZSKA Moscow, before three home games in a row.
Points per quarter Bayern - Frankfurt: 15-22, 18-13, 26-23, 22-19.
FCBB Stats: Petteri Koponen (17 points, 5/5 threes), Paul Zipser (13, 5 rebounds), Greg Monroe (12), Vladimir Lucic (8), Nihad Djedovic (7), Diego Flaccadori (7), Danilo Barthel (5), DeMarcus Nelson (5), Leon Radosevic (4), Mathias Lessort (3), Alex King (13, 5 rebounds), Mathias Lessort (3)
Quotes:
FCBB head coach, Dejan Radonjic: "As we said before, it's always very interesting to play here and I think this game was really very hard. Frankfurt played very well at the beginning, both offensively and defensively. We then improved, but it was still tight. In the end we won and now the most important thing is to prepare for the next game. Nevertheless, I'd like to pay tribute to our opponents, they played well."
Frankfurt head coach, Sebastian Gleim: "Congratulations to Bayern on this week, especially on their victory in the EuroLeague, it's very good for German basketball to have such a strong team. We showed a great game, fought great and improved again. That's why I'm optimistic for the upcoming games".
1st quarter
DeMarcus Nelson, Nihad Djedovic, Vladimir Lucic, Danilo Barthel and Greg Monroe were the starting five for coach Dejan Radonjic. Maodo Lo sat out due to slight muscular problems. The hosts had a better start into the first away game and former Munich player Richard Freudenberg opened the scoring with two threes. The Fraport Skyliners started to pull away as the champions had problems with the zone defense. With a 7-0 run and a buzzerbeater from Koponen the Bavarians finished the quarter positively but still down 22-15 after ten minutes.
2nd quarter
The second quarter turned out to be a bit better for the Munich-based team. Paul Zipser took over the scoring and the team went on a 11-0 run at the start of the quarter. Another Bayern three brought the once big deficit to just a two point Frankfurt lead. Halfway through the second quarter the visitors managed a fast-break bucket to take the first lead of the game at 31-28. But Frankfurt did not let up though and fought back to take the lead. It was again the Bavarians who finished the scoring for the quarter but the defending champions headed to the locker room with down 35-33.
3rd quarter
Monroe tied things up with the first possession of the second half and all in all, the third quarter was marked by high intensity on both sides and five lead changes. Neither team was able to separate by more than five points. Zipser drilled a three to end the quarter which put the Munich squad up 59-58 heading into the final quarter.
4th quarter
The last quarter belonged quite clearly to Koponen: The Guard scored three of his five threes in the last ten minutes - and added on a technical free-throw in crunchtime. Frankfurt missed a three that could have sent the game into overtime and Nelson secured the rebound for Bayern. The game was decided at the line and Bayern came away with a huge road win in Frankfurt.
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Photo credit: Stickel
