FC Bayern's basketball team suffered a disappointment in the league 45 hours after making it into the EuroLeague playoffs: At relegation-threatened Giessen 46ers, the visibly weary Munich team lost 95-94 and thus lost for the sixth time in 27 BBL games. After a good start (26-16), the guests struggled against a courageous opponent, who won the rebounding duel 42-29 and suddenly led 86-79 three minutes before the end. FCBB had foul problems and still had two last shots to win, but could not prevent the surprise. Head coach Andrea Trinchieri stayed in Munich for family reasons, as had been planned internally for a little while. He was replaced on the sidelines by his Italian compatriot and co-coach Adriano Vertemati. In Giessen, the third-placed team was missing Nick Weiler-Babb (foot), Wade Baldwin and Vladimir Lucic resting; captain Nihad Djedovic (arthroscopy knee) was also still missing with an injury.

Bayern is back in BBL action on Tuesday night against current ninth-place Bayreuth (19:00/Audi Dome). Next Friday night (21:00), the 34th and final round game in the top flight is at league leader FC Barcelona.   

Points per quarter Bayern - Giessen: 26-19, 20-24, 21-20, 27-32.

Stats: Two-point shooting: 51% (FCBB) // 54% (Giessen); Three-point shooting: 45% // 46%; Free-throw shooting: 67% // 84%; Rebounds: 29 // 42; Assists: 29 // 14 Turnovers: 5 // 16.

Quotes:
Adriano Vertemati: "First of all, congratulations to Giessen. Their victory is not a surprise when you struggle to defend like we did today. Then you can lose. They hit difficult shots, but we knew beforehand exactly that this is a team with shooters. We should have taken them to the basket more, but we didn't. I don't know if that was because of energy or focus, but it doesn't matter now because it's too late. Again, Giessen deserved to win."

Robin Amaize: "We all wanted to go home with a win. We were definitely tired, but that's no excuse. Even though some players weren't there, we have to win. We didn't underestimate Giessen, we take every game seriously and prepare intensively - no matter if EuroLeague or BBL. Giessen deserved to win, they hit their shots. Check off and on to the next game."

Game recap:
Zan Mark Sisko, Amaize, Paul Zipser, JaJuan Johnson and Leon Radosevic startzed against last-place Giessen. The starting five did their job well and Giessen took the first timeout after just four minutes, as the favorite was already leading 14-5. A particularly motivated John Bryant against his former team and some concentration errors prevented a bigger lead (14-11/7th). A three-pointer each by Zipser and Amaize ended the short-lived lull. The Munich team had plenty of freedom of movement in attack, which they knew how to use to take a 26-19 lead after the first quarter.

The FCBB's defense did hold up and the 46ers thanked them and stayed in the game (28-24/13th). Radosevic was found and Amaize sank his third three-pointer (40-33/17th). Both teams did not defend well at all during this point of the game. For the FCBB, this meant that they could not pull away and permanently had the Hessians, who were fighting to stay in the league, on their heels. After two quarters of play, Bayern led 46-43.

The script changed little after the change of ends as Bayern maintained the lead  (52-48/24th). With the 52-52 equalizer Vertemati had enough and asked for a timeout (25th). As in the past, this laissez-faire attitude kept the opponent in the game. Giessen took the lead for the first time through John Bryant (58-57/28th). The lead now changed regularly until the final quarter but thanks to threes by Sisko and Flaccadori Bayern led 67-63.

The increasingly self-confident hosts showed more will, especially on the boards as the FCBB impressed with 20 assists. Amaize stopped a run of the 46ers with another three-pointer (72-68/34th). Jonathan Stark hit his sixth and then seventh three-pointer to take a Giessen lead. They then went on a 9-0 run to take a 86-79 lead. Foul problems also hampered the effort to catch up, Sisko and Amaize had to leave the court with five fouls. A Zipser three-pointer brought Munich back within five8 but Gist was fould and miessed a free throw (93-90/ 28 seconds left). The FCBB were forced to foul and Giessen increased the lead (95-90). Zipser was fouled on a three-pointer, and converted two of his free throws but after grabbing the offensive rebound he slammed homa dunk. (95-94/eleven seconds left). Bayern actually won the ball again, but Zipser missed the open three that could have sent them home with a win.

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Photo credit: Stickel, Schepp