Bayern has to admit defeat to Fenerbahce's individual class

FC Bayern's basketball team missed another upset on gameday 32 of the EuroLeague: Head coach Andrea Trinchieri's team lost to Turkish co-favorites Fenerbahce Istanbul 77-68 at the Audi Dome. The visitors (now 20-12), who were previously tied with Bayern, are now ahead in the standings (19-13). The Munich team never found its rhythm offensively and had problems especially in the zone. In the last five minutes of the third quarter they managed only two points. Fener played through its exceptional players Nando De Colo (21 points), Marko Guduric (18) and Jan Vesely (15).

The FCBB also had to do without its best defensive gaurs, as Nick Weiler-Babb (foot problems) was missing on short notice in addition to the long-term injured captain Nihad Djedovic (knee). For Bayern, it continues already on Thursday (20:30) with the penultimate game of the main round of the Euroleague against the Lithuanian record champion Zalgiris Kaunas (16-16), who won 96-86 against Alba Berlin on Tuesday night.

Points per quarter Bayern - Fener: 15-18, 19-17, 10-18, 24-24.

Stats: Two-point shooting: 39% (FCBB) // 61% (Fenerbahce); Three-point shooting: 41% // 33%; Free-throw shooting: 88% // 75%; Rebounds: 34 // 30; Assists: 13 // 11; Turnovers: 16 // 11.

Quotes:
Andrea Trinchieri: "Congratulations to Fenerbahce, they played well with a very good defense. I think we tried everything with all our weapons: We won the rebounding duel, we had more assists, but we couldn't score in the zone. That was the key. Normally we attack well in the zone, but that didn't allow us to find an offensive rhythm this time. We forced it a little bit, but I don't want to blame the players. We didn't have a lack of effort, we just didn't find the offensive rhythm. The third quarter made the difference, it hurt us a little bit in the economy of the game. The rest was fine, we gave our maximum."

Vladimir Lucic: "We didn't really find our way into the game today. But we tried everything and we will do it again on Thursday against Kaunas. It goes on."        

Game recap:
Zan Mark Sisko, Vladimir Lucic, James Gist, JaJuan Johnson and Leon Radosevic were Trinchieri's choices to start the game. Lucic, the leader, went ahead and scored eight straight points (8-3/2nd). Although Trinchieri substituted more offensive firepower in Baldwin, Reynolds and Zipser, Bayern remained without points for almost four minutes before Reynolds ended the drought with a dunk to make it 12-9 (7th). Istanbul defended at an enormously high level and forced the Munich team to lose several turnovers - the lead was gone (13-12/9th). De Colo immediately countered Seley's three-pointer from beyond the three-point line and Fener had the lead, 18-15 after ten minutes.

FCBB fought for rhythm, but Fener played smart and alert at the back as well as in front. After two minutes without anything happening, Zipser hit a jump shot against Danilo Barthel, Sisko chased down a three-pointer and the score was tied at 20-20 (13th). Lucic put his team in the lead from the free-throw line, and the hosts played better on defense. The FCBB maintained the lead, but the Final Four contender of the last five years turned the tide with a 6-0 run. Baldwin pranced through the zone and evened the score at 31-31 with a three-point play (19th). A strong three-pointer by Seeley was not enough to take the lead after the second quarter, with Munich trailing 35-34. In the battle for rebounds, Trinchieri's men were ahead at halftime (20-16), but seven turnovers were too many (Istanbul four).

Both teams fought with maximum intensity as the prospect of playoffs forced both to give their all. A 6-0 spurt by Fener led by Jan Vesely prompted Trinchieri to call a timeout (45-39/25th). Fener played smarter in this important phase and Marko Guduric increased the deficit 50-42 (28th). Bayern found no means against the agile and poisonous defense though two Baldwin free throws shortened the gap to 53-44 after the third quarter.

Trinchieri took a timeout after 74 seconds in the final quarter, because Guduric had a far too open three point shot. Out of the timeout, Zipser finally managed a three-pointer, a little later Sisko another one but just when you thought Bayernwas on the verge of one of their infamous comebacks, the guests simply defended even better. But the will of the Munich team was enormous, another Zipser three-pointer reduced the score to 60-55 (35th). De Colo and Guduric, however, always had an answer ready. With the self-confidence from their impressive winning streak of the last weeks, the Turks stayed calm and routinely took time off the clock. Baldwin, however, turned it up again, a three-pointer and a three-point play cutting the deficit 73-68. After Lucic won the ball, Baldwin was denied the foul whistle on his way to the basket - robbing him of the last chance to turn things around.

TO THE SCHEDULE

Photo credit: Eirich, Pahnke