Thanks to an outstanding Sterling Brown, Alba Berlin fended off the Niners Chemnitz’ first match point and tied the semi-final series at 2:2
The Niners Chemnitz got off to the better start in front of their home crowd and led by six points midway through the first quarter. However, Alba Berlin refused to be shaken off and tied the scores for the first time at 20:20, with Chemnitz ultimately winning the first quarter by the narrow margin of 28:27.
Chemnitz kept the pressure on in the second quarter as well and the club from Saxony was able to compensate for the absence of its suspended center Kevin Yebo in the first half. The Niners led by eight points at the break (51:43)
After the break, the already intense game became increasingly heated and a number of fouls crept in on both sides. And Berlin, led by a strong Sterling Brown, worked its way closer and closer to Chemnitz. The forward from the capital club really fired up in the second half and the 29-year-old American was the outstanding player on court in the end with 25 points.
Alba took the lead for the first time in a long time seven minutes before the final buzzer, as Matt Thomas drained three free throws. Although Chemnitz equalized again through Jonas Richter from the foul line to make it 77:77, the momentum was now in Alba’s favor. The club from Berlin produced an 11:0 run to pull 91:80 ahead and Chemnitz no longer had an answer.
That means Bayern Munich’s opponent in the BBL final series will be decided on Thursday evening (6:30 p.m.) in Berlin. The winner of this game will then challenge the main round leaders and cup winners in the final series from Saturday onwards.
