The FC Bayern basketball team has continued its remarkable progress in the EuroLeague and is still holding its own at the top of the premier league: On Friday evening, after a dramatic duel, head coach Andrea Trinchieri's team defeated Valencia and is now  6-2 after the 90-79 win. The FCBB came back from early foul problems and played brilliantly in front of club president Herbert Hainer and his predecessor Uli Hoeneß with an excellent final quarter (28-19). The top scorers for Munich who had to do without captain Nihad Djedovic (adductors) at short notice, were Vladimir Lucic (22) and Paul Zipser (20).

The tough EuroLeague game was the start to a difficult schedule for the Bavarians, with five games over the next ten days. Already on Sunday, the Munich players will be challenged in Frankfurt in the BBL (15.11., 15:00) before the action continues next Tuesday at Efes Istanbul (17.11.,18:30.). Both games will be broadcast live on MagentaSport as usual.

Points per quarter Bayern - Valencia: 21-18, 16-21, 25-21, 28-19.

Stats:: Two-point shooting: 50% (FCBB) // 62% (Valencia); three-point shooting: 52% // 25%; free-throw shooting: 88% // 89%; rebounds: 34 //29; assists: 17 //19; turnovers: 17 //18.

Quotes:
Andrea Trinchieri: "I can only congratulate my players. They won the game with stakes. Without shining, but that is not decisive. In the second half we defended together as a team. The players try to go to their limits every day. I challenge them every day, but they also always work incredibly hard themselves. This is a victory for the whole team today against a very good team that has incredible experience. Everyone played their part. It's been a long time since we found a rhythm on offense and played with less energy than ever before this season. For 26, 27 minutes it was rather catastrophic. But after a very bad half, some players improved a lot in the second half. So we found a way to win the game. It was not the way we wanted to go, but we found a way in the second half. Djedovic's injury is nothing serious, but we didn't want to take any risks".

Paul Zipser: "In the first half we had a few problems, communication was missing a little bit and we had a few problems in the defense when switching. In the second half we played again as a team with a lot of fight and energy, just like in the games we won before. It was not easy at all, Valencia is a great team and has been playing together for a long time. There was a lot of energy in our victory. I am glad that my shot was better today".

Vladimir Lucic: "I am glad that we won today. It was an important victory against a strong opponent. The defense decided it today. In the beginning we really had problems, but in the end we did a good job. Against Efes Istanbul it will be important to go back into the game with a lot of energy".

Marko Pesic: "Congratulations and respect to the team - they fought unbelievably today and won. At the moment they are showing a lot of heart and commitment on the court. Just imagine if the fans were still in the hall right now. . . ! Then it would be a great event. But I know that many people keep their fingers crossed for us in front of the TV. Now we have to stay focused, this was only the eighth gameday".

Game recap:
Trinchieri had to do without Djedovic, but could fall back on Leon Radosevic again. He therefore started with Wade Baldwin, Vladimir Lucic, JaJuan Johnson, Sasha Grant and Malcom Thomas. This big starting lineup initially had problems against an aggressive Valencia, who started with a 9-2 run (3rd). But Bayern did not give up. A three by Thomas finished an 8-0 run after an a great shot by Baldwin (10-9/5.) In the end, the Munich team won the first quarter 21-18.

At the beginning of the second quarter, coach Jaume Ponsarnau changed Valencia's tactics and switched to zone defense again and again. Nevertheless the hosts managed to put Johnson under the basket (31-27/14.). Thanks to former FCBB player Derrick Williams (9 points), the Spaniards held their own offensively (36-34/17.) Success from beyond the arc was a big problem for the Munich defense, but thanks to good work on the offensive boards (nine offensive rebounds before half they stayed in the game. A tight half-time result was the appropriate consequence (39-37 Valencia).

The second half was also highly competitive at first. Lucic countered a triple from Kremen Prepelic and in the next attack he immediately put in two more points (44-44/23.). The top scorer for Valencia, however, had a suitable answer in his turn, before a four-point play by Paul Zipser gave the hosts a narrow lead again. (53-51/26.).  This was the start of a small run by the hosts, who kept an advantage heading into the final quarter (62-60).

The last ten minutes was not pretty and Bayern had a hard time on offense at first - until Lucic saved the team with a closely defended three (69-67/33.) The FCBB maintained their wafer-thin lead with great intensity on both sides of the ball (74-72/36.). But once again it was Prepelic and Williams who kept Valencia in the close game. The FCBB was now fully in the game and Zipser made a great play keeping the ball in play and that was followed by Sisko finising at the basket. Lucic made a decisive eight-point advance with a steal and a three (86-78/39.).

TO THE SCHEDULE

Photo Credit: Eirich, Pahnke, Rauchensteiner