Alba Berlin has once again reached the final series in the Basketball Bundesliga. The defending champions also won their third semi-final match at MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg on Friday evening with 73:67 (35:37) and decided the best-of-five series in their favour with 3:0.
A very intense encounter developed from the beginning, in which the defensive lines dominated at first. Alba had a hard time against very agile defending hosts and was quickly 0:5 behind. The Berliners then countered with a 10:2 run and took the lead for the first time. In the process, they benefited from several offensive rebounds.
But Alba rarely got into the tempo game and the guests only found their rhythm for short moments in the first half. The Capitals also missed many throws. A five-point lead at the beginning of the second quarter (24:19) could not be held for long. Instead, the lead changed back and forth until the break.
After the change of ends, Alba even fell behind by six points (35:41). But then the guests woke up and had a much better rhythm, especially offensively. With a 25:6 run in the third period, the Berliners pulled away to 60:47. The hosts came back to within four points with 79 seconds to go (71-67), but Alba held their nerve once again.
The best Berlin scorers were Ben Lammers with eleven points and Tamir Blatt with ten.
Alba starts with a home game in the final series
Alba is now reaching for the eleventh championship title in the club’s history – and the third in a row. “It’s special every time,” said Berlin’s Jonas Mattisseck after reaching the final: “We’re incredibly hot and looking forward to it.”
The final opponents will be either FC Bayern München or Telekom Baskets Bonn. It is certain that the Berliners will open the finals with a home game on 10 June. The game will be played in a 1-1-1-1 rhythm, i.e. home-away-home-away-home.
MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg – Alba Berlin 67:73 (37:35)
Ludwigsburg: Justin Simon (16 points / 1 rebounds / 3 assists), Tremmell Darden (13/1/1), Jonah Radebaugh (11/4/8), James Woodard (8/0/1), Yorman Polas Bartolo (6/3/2), Jonas Wohlfarth-Bottermann (6/10/0), Jordan Hulls (4/2/2), Johannes Patrick (3/0/0), Lukas Herzog (0/2/0), Jacob Patrick (0/0/0), Jonathan Bähre (DNP), Rawle Alkins (DNP).
Berlin: Ben Lammers (11 points / 7 rebounds / 1 assists), Tamir Blatt (10/3/2), Johannes Thiemann (9/9/2), Jonas Mattisseck (9/3/1), Louis Olinde (8/4/0), Maodo Lo (7/2/0), Jaleen Smith (5/1/4), Yovel Zoosman (5/4/0), Oscar da Silva (5/4/2), Luke Sikma (2/7/2), Christ Koumadje (2/1/0), Malte Delow (DNP).
Spectators: 3.800 (sold out)
