The first title of the season is duly celebrated by the Bayern basketball team. But the Munich team is not content with winning the cup. Nevertheless, the coach is relieved for the time being
After winning his first title in Germany, Bayern’s star coach Pablo Laso was above all relieved. “Well, I can tell my family that I’ve done the job,” said the Spaniard with a grin after the cup win at home in BMW Park on Sunday. The team from Munich had beaten the German champions ratiopharm Ulm 81:65 in the final.
Laso had said in the run-up to the Top Four that his family expected nothing more from him than the title. “You have to win the trophy,” his family had told him. The youngest of his three sons in particular, Aksel, who plays for Munich’s U19 team, had put pressure on his father, who has won 22 titles with Real Madrid.
The big goal is the first championship title since 2019
And his team did not let Laso down. After the clear victory in the semi-final against Bamberg, Bayern also put in a dominant performance in the final against Ulm. “It feels very good. It was a great weekend. The team really impressed today,” said Bayern’s managing director Marko Pesic.
But the cup title should only be the beginning for Bayern. The star ensemble from the Isar is still aiming for the play-offs in the Euroleague. And above all in the Bundesliga, the aim is to finally win the championship again after four years without a title. “Of course we still have a lot of plans for this season,” said world champion Andreas Obst.
But before they continue in the league on February 28 with a home game against BG Göttingen, the Bavarians first celebrated their title defense in the cup. The champagne was already spraying in the dressing room, after which the party continued in the city. “I hope it gets intense and long,” announced Elias Harris.
The accompanying program was also a complete success: As part of the “BMW Night of the Legends” in Munich, 20,100 euros were raised for the non-profit organization Basketball Aid, which supports children with cancer and is supported by former national player and TV expert Per Günther, among others.
For example, the signed shoes worn by world champion Niels Giffey during the triumph in the Far East were auctioned off for 5,100 euros.
Fans can also continue to bid for unique basketball items. Auctions are held online, with all proceeds going to charity.
