German basketball champions ratiopharm Ulm suffered a debacle in their first away game in the EuroCup. Coach Anton Gavel’s team lost 82-111 (36-62) at defending champions CB Gran Canaria, Ulm’s first defeat of the season in the competition. The best scorer in a disappointing visiting team was L.J. Figueroa with 19 points.
Ulm’s problem was the disastrous first half. “We weren’t there at all in the first half, it was an embarrassing performance,” Gavel told MagentaSport during the break. Ulm had started the game well in Las Palmas, but then completely collapsed in the first quarter. A 17:5 run by the Spaniards started this, and things did not get any better in the second period. Only after the break did Ulm wake up and at least win the third quarter, but it was no longer exciting.
Ulm in the middle of the table
Gran Canaria is not one of the top teams in the Spanish league. However, in the EuroCup, the second-highest European cup, the team of former Ulm coach Jaka Lakovic is a force at home. With two wins from two games, the Spaniards are now right at the top of Group B, Ulm is in the middle for the time being.
In the group of ten, Gavel’s team must finish in the top six to reach the next round. Two teams from each group will advance directly to the quarter-finals, while the clubs in third to sixth place will play in the last 16.
