READY FOR THE PLAYOFFS! The Bayern Basketball team closed out the EuroLeague regular season with a sensational road win at Spanish record champions and title contenders Real Madrid: Head coach Andrea Trinchieri's team won triumphantly 97-88 despite trailing 61-41 after 24 minutes and playing their third tough road game since Monday. While the Bavarians were already fixed as the eighth seed the Spanish record champions actually needed a win for second place in front of 6,800 fans and fell to fourth place as a result of Munich's first ever win in Madrid.
Top scorer for Bayern, who virtually overran the Royal star ensemble with a 38-13 in the final quarter, was the great energizer Ognjen Jaramaz with his career-best 19 points ahead of Deshaun Thomas (16), Zan Mark Sisko (13), Othello Hinter (11) and Andreas Obst (9).
38-13 in the fourth quarter after trailing by 20 points
The FCBB thus end the regular season with a 14-14 record and in eighth place, will play the title favorites and round winners FC Barcelona (21-7) in the playoff quarterfinals. Game three, the FCBB's first home game (April 26 or 27), will be scheduled soon - tickets are already available.
The game started balanced 17-15, before turnovers and too much space for Real's precision shooters (13 threes before the break) allowed a decisive setback to 46-29 (17th). But the guests never let up, winning the third quarter 25-23. Obst and Thomas then crowned the seemingly unreal comeback to take the lead to 88-82 (38th) - Real was shocked and shortly after phenomenally defeated.
The FCBB returned to action on Sunday evening after the BBL game in Giessen (15:00./MagentaSport/Sport1). Next home appearance is on Wednesday (April 13, 19:00) at the "Music meets Basketball" event against MBC with the concert highlight "Jan Delay & die Delaydies & DJ Mad".
Real Madrid - FC Bayern Basketball 88:97 (52:34)
FCBB:
Ognjen Jaramaz (19 Points), Deshaun Thomas (16), Zan Mark Sisko (13), Othello Hunter (11/6 Rebounds), Andreas Obst (9), Leon Radosevic (8), Vladimir Lucic (7), Augustine Rubit (5), Paul Zipser (5), Darrun Hilliard (4), Jason George und Gavin Schilling
Real Madrid:
Llull, Deck, Yabusele und Causeur (jeweils 12 Points)
Referee
Sreten Radovic, Ilija Belosevic, Rain Peerandi
Attendance
6,796
Points per quarter Bayern - Real: 17-24, 17-28, 25-23, 38-13.
Stats: Two-point shooting: 61 % (FCBB) // 47 % (Madrid); Three-point shooting: 45 % // 50 %; Free-throw shooting: 78 % // 80 %; Rebounds: 32 // 23; Assists: 13 // 27; Turnovers: 8 // 11.
Quotes:
FCBB head coach, Andrea Trinchieri: "The final result perhaps surprises me a bit; because when you're 20 points behind, it's not easy to come back - especially away from home and especially here. All compliments go to my players. They played an excellent second half and stuck together. We had a couple of game-changers in our ranks: I think Andi Obst and Deshaun Thomas helped us a lot and Jaramaz finished the job. But you have to have a team in the sense of individualists who give their best at the right moment. I think our veterans Hunter and Lucic showed a rousing game defensively and gave us a lot of confidence. (...) We suffered in the first half, were down by 20 because Real shot the ball very, very well. 13 of 22 threes before the break, some were our mistakes, others just showed pure talent. But we stayed together, played together, and as soon as Real's quality dropped, we went on an incredible run: 38-13 in the last quarter, with really everyone helping from the bench, like Andi Obst, who I'm thinking of, who suffered for two months because of Covid and bad form - that's a big push and booster not only for his confidence. Everyone played great. This game doesn't give us anything in the standings, but a big boost in confidence. Because you don't know what you're capable of once you've done it. Now we did it, even though we are still missing players. We're ready for the playoffs, but we also know that Barca is the best team. They've only lost seven games. We finished eighth with all our problems. They are the favorite and we will try to fight."
Ognjen Jaramaz: "We played much harder and better in the second half. We defended better and closed down their key players. Then we hit important shots on offense. This is a great way to finish the regular season of the EuroLeague. Every game is important for us, we wanted to show we are ready for the playoffs."
Game recap:
FCBB head coach Andrea Trinchieri's front five in the last game of the EuroLeague season consisted of Zan Mark Sisko, Jason George, Vladimir Lucic, Augustine Rubit and Leon Radosevic. The exclamation mark of Radosevic in the first attack was remarkable, when he went toe-to-toe against the giant Tavares and hammered the ball into the basket. The Madrilenians responded with four threes in a row (12-5/4th minute of the game). Sisko showed that he has improved his accuracy from beyond the three-point line recently and his bucket brought them to within three. Trinchieri changed up the lineup and an alley-oop dunk by Hunter kept the Munich team in the game (17-15/7th). Turnovers prevented the intended change in the lead, and when there was sloppiness on the defensive end, Coach Trinchieri called for a timeout (22-15/9th). After ten minutes, the FCBB was trailing 24-17.
Real had the momentum on its side and the threes were falling (30-20/12th). The FCBB came back a little closer via a more toxic defense, but a three-pointer by Sergio Llull dampened the feelings of a comeback (34-25/(14th). Sisko went to the basket twice in a row converted, and again the hopes for a comeback were dashed by Rudy Fernandez's three-pointer (38-29/17th). The Munich team did not have enough to counter the crazy three-point percentage of the Spaniards (50%) and let their heads hang down a bit in the third Euroleague game of this week. The deficit was clear after the second quarter - 52-34.
Bayern doesn't give up, but Real's three-pointers do damage
The pattern of the first half repeated itself: The FCBB fought their way back a few points but the Madrilenians sank another three-pointer (59-40/24th). Andreas Obst knocked in a three-pointer to start an 11-2 run - FCBB sensed a glimmer of hope (63-52/27th). The momentum destroyer came again from Llull, of course via a three-pointer (67-54/29th). The rain of threes continued, after quarter three the deficit was again a sobering 16 points - 75-59.
Bayern's morale was unbroken, however, and they continued to believe in themselves and fought their way back into single digits 75-68 (33rd) via a more intense defense an a 9-0 run. The FCBB now copied the method of the hosts, Obst and Thomas each drilled a three-pointer to get to within four 80-76 (35th). The victory was suddenly within reach and another three-pointer by Jaramaz brought the score to 82-81 (37th). Thomas hit a three-pointer to give the Munich team its first lead in a game that was already thought to be lost (84-82/37th).
38-13 in the final quarter
The giant wavered, and Real's nerves fluttered. Jaramaz and Thomas added to the score to make it 8-:82 (38th). Munich defended devotedly and had the defensive rebounding under control. Jaramaz cleverly drew a foul and converted one free throw - 89-84, 67 seconds left. FCBB defense forced Madrid to turn the ball over and Lucic sank two free throws for a 91-84 lead, 42 seconds left. After two free throws by Llull, the Spaniards immediately fouled Hunter and he sunk both charity points (93-86/ 38 seconds left). The FCBB gave the favorites no chance after their brilliant comeback. The Madrilenian fans left the hall in consternation, long faces among the royals.
(c) Martinez, Stickel