The Jobstairs Gießen 46ers pulled off a surprise in the first round of the Basketball Bundesliga Cup: The second division team defeated the first division team Hakro Merlins Crailsheim at home with 79:73 (42:35) and is now in the round of 16.
Former national team captain Robin Benzing hit his first four three-pointers and scored 17 points in his first competitive game for Giessen. The Giesseners were in the lead from the middle of the first quarter and pulled away by up to 18 points in the second half.
This season, second division teams are taking part in the BBL Cup for the first time since 2008/09. The six best second division teams from last season and the ten BBL teams that missed the playoffs will play in the first round of the cup. The eight BBL playoff teams from last season enter the competition in the round of 16.
World champion Schröder sees lion victory
In front of basketball world champion Dennis Schröder, the Basketball Lions Braunschweig prevailed 78:64 (38:32) against BBL promoted Tigers Tübingen. Schröder is the sole shareholder of the Braunschweig club and will be there at the Lions’ first home game next Friday with the World Cup trophy. The second BBL promoted Rasta Vechta won 84:76 (42:39) against the Rostock Seawolves thanks to a strong Tommy Kuhse (26 points). With a little effort, the Würzburg Baskets held their own against the second division team PS Karlsruhe Lions with 93:81 (47:38).
The round of 16 games of the BBL Cup will take place on October 14th and 15th. Then the Gießen team will play at the Niners Chemnitz, Vechta will host BG Göttingen, Braunschweig will play against Alba Berlin, and Würzburg will face ratiopharm Ulm at home.
