Bayern defeats Berlin in overtime thriller - 101-95

With a fantastic finish, the Bayern Basketball team won the EuroLeague rivalry game in overtime against Alba Berlin, which was at one point assumed to be lost, with a final score of 101-95. The Munich team was down by 16 points and down 80-67 a good four and a half minutes before the end of the fourth quarter and before Wade Baldwin's long three-pointer and points from Paul Zipser (a 20-7 run in total) sent the game into overtime. At the end of the game, an epic drama developed with many twists and turns. Down one at 95-95 with just over 40 seconds left, Vladimir Lucic hit a big three-pointer and top scorer Jalen Reynolds (24) made the decisive defensive play shortly after. For the FCBB it was already the 15th victory in the 24th game - no German team has ever achieved so many successes in the Euroleague during a season. 

It was a rocky road: head coach Andrea Trinchieri's men got off to a poor start without the necessary energy, scoring their first field basket only after seven minutes and already trailing 26-10 after the first quarter. In the third quarter the FCBB stayed in the game with a good phase and fought to the end to push for overtime.

For Bayern were again missing Zan Mark Sisko, Robin Amaize (both in the build-up), youngster Matej Rudan (ankle) and also Nihad Djedovic. In just under two days, on Sunday evening (Feb. 7, 18:00), the Munich team has to play in the BBL on the road at Bamberg and then already on Tuesday in Ulm (Feb. 9, 19:00).

Points per quarter Bayern - Berlin: 10-26, 23-17, 25-23, 29-21, 148

Stats: Two-point shooting: 53% (FCBB) // 65% (Berlin); Three-point shooting: 44% //35%; Free-throw shooting: 75% // 70%; Rebounds: 28//32; Assists: 25//24; Turnovers: 10 //19.

Quotes:
Andrea Trinchieri: "Some games can kill you, others charge you up tremendously. Berlin was better for 35 minutes, had much more energy. We were heavy, didn't put any pressure. But then we needed our best effort in the last five minutes and in overtime; we had big plays and some stops. This is a game that can take us forward. (...) We won the second, third, fourth quarters and the overtime - but the first quarter cost us a lot. We didn't have real energy, but you see what one more day of rest does; we played one day later than them in the BBL, 48 hours ago. It was a tough game against a very good opponent who shoots the ball excellently. It was really hard to come back. (...) This is a very big win, a loss would have complicated our life in the EuroLeague given the other results. (...) I don't want to think about Sunday today, because I don't know who can play. But we were on empty and all see how in our team everyone tries to reach his maximum. Today we lost Weiler-Babb, who had a problem with his foot and could not run. This schedule is not human."      

Paul Zipser: "That was a great show by both teams, I'm just exhausted. We were way too bad at the beginning, we can't go into a first quarter like that here, especially not against a team like that. But we came back, that was strong; then they also came back at the end. It was impressive what both teams did."

Vladimir Lucic: "That's the mentality of our team. We've shown it a few times this season that we can deliver a comeback. We train so hard and just never give up. This is a big win for us. We confirmed our great road trip last week in Moscow. We know how good Alba is, they have a lot of talent. It's going to be a fight to the end of the season with them."

Jalen Reynolds: "We should have played better, we can't be satisfied with our performance. We can't go out on the court like that in our gym and beat ourselves. They, on the other hand, played with a lot of momentum. But in the end, everyone stepped up, we came up big on defense and got the rebounds. It feels good to have the win."

Game Recap:
Head coach Trinchieri started Baldwin, Nick Weiler-Babb, Vladimir Lucic, James Gist and Leon Radosevic. The FCBB still had the difficult game against Wuerzburg (74-70) in their bones, which is why they came into the game sluggishly and did not look properly awake. Lucic only scored the first points from the free-throw line after four minutes, while ex-Munich player Maodo Lo hit his shots early (11-2).  Only with difficulty did the Munich team find its usual intensity and still couldn't prevent the great start for Berlin, especially from the three-point line (26-10/10th).

The second quarter began with more momentum on offense. Diego Flaccadori moved the ball, Weiler-Babb and Zipser hit the first threes for Bayern and Baldwin attacked the basket (29-18/13th). But Coach Aito's team made it difficult for the hosts to score and used turnovers to establish their quick game (37-25/27th). Jalen Reynolds (12 points in the first half) brought a lot of energy in this phase and made sure that the Munich team went into the break with only a ten-point deficit (44-33).

Finding energy somewhere was Trinchieri's wish for the second half - and the players heeded it. Reynolds, Zipser, Seeley and Lucic provided quick points and forced an early timeout from Berlin (48-46/24th). But again the guests found the right answer and kept their lead despite the kindled fire under the Munich squad (66-58/30th). It only took 37 seconds in the final quarter for Bayern's head coach to call a timeout after a 5-0 run by Berlin. The top scorer for the guests, Simone Fontecchio, hit two quick threes but Reynolds and Zipser answered (74-65 Berlin/37th). The effort of the tired Munich team made for difficult Berlin shots but they always found a way to score and the visitors kept a nine-point lead (80-71/36th). Paul Zipser and Wade Baldwin fought with all their might against the threat of defeat and brought their team back to 84-81 (39th). A crazy three-pointer from Lucic made it dramatic 16 seconds before the end and Baldwin brought the game, which was thought to be lost, into overtime (87-87).

In overtime, Baldwin picked up where he left off and put his team in front for the first time (91-89/42nd). With high intensity on the defensive end and a three-pointer by Seeley, victory was suddenly within reach with two minutes to go. But a five-point play by Alba turned everything on its head again (95-94/44th). Again it was Lucic who hit an important three-pointer for the lead. Three Berlin turnovers later and Bayern had pulled victory from the jaws of defeat. 

TO THE SCHEDULE

Photo credit: Rauchensteiner, Gamel, Pahnke