Ratiopharm Ulm is in a really good mood at the moment. On Saturday they had their fourth win in a row. Meanwhile, the EWE Baskets from Oldenburg are not doing any better, even with a new coach. Giessen surprised against Hamburg.
Ulm has consolidated its place in the top group of the BBL. The hosts, who were once again without coach Lakovic, beat Niners Chemnitz 77-68 (40-27) on Saturday evening and are now in third place with 24-10 points behind Telekom Baskets Bonn, who are level on points. Bayern Munich (24:8) are still top of the table.
For Ulm it was the fourth win in a row. Chemnitz, on the other hand, have to let the home side go for the time being and are in fourth place with 22:12 points.
Oldenburg: Abaz debut fails
Oldenburg’s season is going miserably, with only two wins so far, which means last place in the table. During the week, the EWE Baskets parted ways with long-time coach Mladen Drijencic, with former assistant coach Alen Abaz taking over. But even under the new man, the turnaround did not succeed at first, with an 86:97 defeat in Crailsheim on Saturday.
The home side already set the course for victory in the first quarter, winning it 31:17. The Merlins carried this lead over the entire duration of the game. For the Oldenburg team, there have now been twelve defeats in 14 games. The switch must be flipped quickly if they want to avoid relegation.
Gießen doesn’t give Hamburg a chance
In the third BBL game on Saturday, Giessen clearly prevailed against Hamburg, who are on course for the play-offs but had to cope with a massive Corona slump before the game. With a strong second quarter in which the hosts scored 20 points and allowed only nine, the 46ers set the course for victory. In the end, it was a clear 100:73 for the home side.
Before the departure for the away game, several people had tested positive for the virus at the Hamburg team on Friday. An additional PCR test on Saturday morning then revealed another infected player, just a few hours before the start of the game. However, as the Towers had the required eight players available, the match went ahead.
ratiopharm Ulm – Niners Chemnitz 77:68 (40:27)
Best scorers for Ulm: Blossomgame (18), Jallow (15), Thornwell (12)
Best Throwers for Chemnitz: Weidemann (14), Mike (14), Lockett (14)
Spectators: none
Jobstairs Giessen 46ers – Hamburg Towers 100:73 (45:35)
Best scorers for Giessen: Koch (24), McCullum (22), Omot (18), Fayne (10)
Best Throwers for Hamburg: Brown (24), Homesley (19)
Spectators: 170
Hakro Merlins Crailsheim – EWE Baskets Oldenburg 97:86 (53:41)
Best scorers for Crailsheim: Shorts (24), Lewis (15), Stuckey (15)
Best scorers for Oldenburg: Odiase (16), Hundt (15), Heidegger (13), Paulding (12), Michalak (10)
Spectators: 500
