The surprise team from ratiopharm Ulm took the lead in the final series of the Basketball Bundesliga and inflicted the first home defeat of the current season on Champions League winner Telekom Baskets Bonn.
The team of ex-national player Anton Gavel won 79:73 (42:35) in Bonn’s Telekom Dome and is only two wins away from winning the first title in the club’s history. For Bonn it was the first defeat after 25 wins in a row in the league.
In the first two playoff rounds, Ulm caused a sensation and threw out defending champions Alba Berlin and Bayern Munich one after the other. The best thrower among the guests was Yago dos Santos with 19 points. League MVP TJ Shorts scored 20 points for Bonn. Game two will take place again in Bonn on Sunday (6 p.m./Magentasport).
Bonn coach Iisalo: “We will draw our conclusions”
It is already clear that there will definitely be a premiere champion. Because neither Bonn nor Ulm have been able to win the championship title so far. Three wins are necessary to win the title.
“The team just always believes in itself and its strengths,” said Ulm’s coach Anton Gavel at Magentasport. “The season will soon be over, so you just have to give it your all again.” Bonn coach Tuomas Iisalo was disappointed. “Our shooting chances were not good enough. But we will analyze the game and draw our conclusions,” said the coach of the year.
Ulm ensures peace and quiet in the Telekom Dome
The Ulmer seamlessly continued their strong performances from the previous playoffs. With aggressive defense they clearly impressed the hosts, the Rhinelanders did not find their usual rhythm. Ulm also put away in an impressive way that in national player Karim Jallow and center Bruno Caboclo two very important players had to fight with foul problems.
After a balanced first quarter (20:20), the Ulm team moved up to ten points in the second half (41:31). In the otherwise atmospheric Telekom Dome, it suddenly became surprisingly quiet. At half-time, Ulm was seven points ahead, also because the hosts only hit 30 percent of their shots from the field. “We’re not where we want to be yet,” said the injured Bonn captain Karsten Tadda at half-time at Magentasport.
Bonn’s race to catch up is not rewarded
After the change of sides, Ulm initially pulled away to eleven points, but then Bonn started to catch up. While ex-NBA professional Brandon Paul missed three free throws in a row, the hosts scored twice from distance and suddenly it was their turn again. Before the final section, Ulm was just ahead (55:52).
But the guests showed nerves of steel. Whenever Bonn seemed to turn the game around, the guests had an answer ready. Especially point guard Yago dos Sontos hit important throws in the final phase and made the surprise perfect.
