The basketball players of FC Bayern Munich won their fourth BBL game and remain perfect in the Bundesliga after a great 90-83 comeback win in Oldenburg.
In front of 6,200 spectators in the sold-out EWE Arena, the German champion made an impressive comeback: The so far undefeated Niedersachsen team was allowed 39 points in the first 13 minutes, seven out of nine threes and a lead of 21 points. But "Energizer" Alex King took back the lead for the unstoppable guest 16 minutes later (60-59/29.). In the final quarter, top scorer Petteri Koponen (18) contributed four threes and a total of 14 points. 17-year-old FCBB talent, Sasha Grant, made his Bundesliga debut in the final seconds.
The Bavarians will have their next assignment on Thursday (24.10., 20:30 CEST) in the Audi Dome for the eagerly awaited duel in the EuroLeague with Khimki Moscow (both 2-1).
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Facts & figures: Shooting percentage FCBB 54% // Oldenburg 49%; Threes: 9/20 // 11/25; Rebounds: 36 // 22; Assists 19 // 17th - Injuries: Josh Huestis (build-up training), TJ Bray (foot surgery) and Mathias Lessort (foot).
Points per quarter Bayern - Oldenburg: 13-29, 24-17, 25-15, 28-22.
FCBB Stats: Petteri Koponen (18 points, 4/7 threes), Maodo Lo (17, 5 assists, 3/5 threes), Danilo Barthel (11, 8 rebounds), Nihad Djedovic (11), Vladimir Lucic (8), Paul Zipser (8), Leon Radosevic (8), Alex King (5), Greg Monroe (4), Sasha Grant (5), Sasha Grant)
Quotes:
FCBB head coach, Dejan Radonjic: "We had a very bad start, after 13 minutes Oldenburg already had 39 points. Our defensive performance was really bad, but Oldenburg also played very well during this phase. In the second half we finally brought more energy."
Alex King: "We lost the last two years here and didn't want Oldenburg to become a kind of feared opponent. We showed character to come back after such a big gap. The beginning was bad, that was of course tough to swallow. We were somehow too shy, too restrained. Then we got a clear message at half time and that's a good thing if you really cheer each other on in the cabin. In the second half we did much better. Of course we have a lot of new players on the team for whom this league is new, they have to get used to the emotions in the other halls. But in the end we won as a team and everyone had their share in the success. If we don't show enough energy, anyone can beat us, but if we can fight and play physically, we will continue to win our games."
Mladen Drijencic, Head Coach Oldenburg: "In the beginning the Bavarians had no rhythm and we hit almost everything. At some point our percentages got worse and those of the Bavarians better. In the second half they hit nearly all their threes and we couldn't defend Koponen."
1st quarter
Maodo Lo, Nihad Djedovic, Vladimir Lucic, Danilo Barthel and Greg Monroe were once again the starting five of the defending champions who had trouble getting into the game from the start. It was not until the fourth minute that the visitors scored their first points and were down 9-3 early. However, the hosts continued to dominate the action and were able to extend their lead, mainly due to their great shooting percentage from downtown (53% at half-time). At the half the home team was up big, 29-13
2nd quarter
Oldenburg scored the first five points and took a 21 point lead. Finally the guest showed the necessary intensity and attitude, in order to be able to exist with the tough road game. The champions were carried offensively by Lo and Djedovic, who scored ten and eight points respectively in the first half and were thus responsible for almost half of the Munich points. After a three-point play by former Bavarian, Braydon Hobbs, the Bavarians started a 6-0 run at the end of the first half and thus brought the deficit to within ten at 46-37.
3rd quarter
The Munich team came out of the lockerroom with a completely different intensity, but Oldenburg was still able to defend their lead and keep it in the double-digit range. Finally a 15-0 run between the 26th and 29th minutes of the game flipped the script of the game as Alex King, who was very energetic from the bench, took the first lead (60-59) and ended the quarter up 62-61.
4th quarter
The final section was determined by Koponnen and after changing the lead at first, the Finn took over from the 35th minute and hit all four of his threes. The Bavarians also clearly won the rebound duel. The 87-74 score meant the highest lead and a good 16 seconds before the end, Italian-Bayern youngster, Sasha Grant celebrated his Bundesliga premiere.
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Photo credit: Stickel