Berlin (dpa) – Alba Berlin has lost the prestige duel in the basketball Bundesliga against FC Bayern Munich and thus also handed over the lead in the table to Telekom Baskets Bonn.
Coach Israel Gonzalez’s team lost at home in front of 13,666 spectators after a hard fight 71:76 (43:43) to their permanent rival. Previously, Alba had won twelve games in a row in the domestic league. The best Berlin throwers were Jaleen Smith with 14 and Johannes Thiemann and Maodo Lo with twelve points each.
A highly intense game developed from the start, in which the defensive rows initially dominated. Alba in particular was very concentrated under the basket and hardly allowed Bayern to make any offensive rebounds. And since the guests hardly scored at first, the defending champion, who had to do without the injured Yovel Zoosman and Tamir Blatt, quickly pulled away to 16:7.
But towards the end of the first quarter, Bayern hit more of their long-range shots and came back so quickly. The game was now completely even, but Alba allowed too many turnovers. In the middle of the second period, the Berliners were suddenly 23:27 behind. But they remained unimpressed and responded with an 11-0 run.
But before the change of sides, Bayern equalized again and the hosts found it increasingly difficult to get into promising throwing positions. Bayern took the lead again. But Alba fought back and the lead switched back and forth in the last quarter. The decision came 14.7 seconds before the end when Isaac Bonga converted two free throws to make it 76:71.
