The basketball players from Syntainics MBC have now also defeated runner-up Alba Berlin (94:78) after beating champions Bayern Munich.
For the Weißenfels team, it was already the eighth win in 13 games this season, putting them in contention for a top-six finish.
The East German derby began with a tough fight. Both teams were highly motivated offensively. Alba’s David McCormack took an early lead with three quick baskets. However, two buckets from outside by Brewer and Bryant turned the momentum around. With one second left on the clock, Kovacevic added two free throws to give the MBC the lead (22:21).
MBC stymied by turnovers early on
However, the team from Saxony-Anhalt then had increasing problems in building play: The home side conceded the majority of the ten turnovers in the second quarter. Alba ruthlessly exploited this and pulled – also thanks to the strong Matteo Spagnolo (16, 4/7 FG) – to an interim 13-point lead.
The mood changed after the break. Weißenfels came out with a completely new lease of energy and, spurred on by the frenetic crowd, drained four buckets from outside in just under two minutes. Alba, on the other hand, was completely out of rhythm in this spell and only managed four points in the first seven minutes of play. Shortly before the end of the quarter, Berlin’s Hermansson then missed two free throws, allowing Devoe (20 points, 7/11 FG) to score a lay-up on the break to make it 64:62.
Alba slumped in the second half
Despite the two-minute break before the final quarter, the momentum did not change much at that moment. The MBC had suddenly tasted blood. When center John Bryant (11, 3/3 three-pointers) then added two successive threes (75:64), the crowd was on its feet. Charles Callison (15 points, ten assists) sealed the win with a deep three (88:73) with 89 seconds remaining.
Both teams will be back in action in just a few days. The MBC will be guests in the derby at the Niners Chemnitz on Monday (live on Dyn from 8 p.m.). Alba Berlin will face the Rostock Seawolves on Tuesday (live on Dyn from 2 p.m.).
