The Jobstairs Giessen 46ers are the second team to be relegated from the Basketball Bundesliga. Despite three remaining games, there is no more hope.
The Hessians lost clearly against the Niners Chemnitz on Friday with 70:91 (31:52). In addition to Giessen, the Fraport Skyliners from Frankfurt also have to leave the league in sporting terms. “We have to process this now. It is disappointing and sad. Now something has to be changed in the club,” said Giessen’s professional Bjarne Kraushaar to “Magentasport”.
The game in the Sporthalle Gießen-Ost was decided by a weak second quarter by the hosts. The club only scored four points and did not get back into the game after the change of ends. Nevertheless, there was applause from the fans. “Of course it’s pleasing, but the disappointment outweighs it,” Kraushaar explained.
Weißenfels secure class preservation
The Giessen defeat benefited above all rivals Syntainics MBC from Weissenfels. The club from Saxony-Anhalt secured their place in the league with a 91:79 (44:47) win over the Löwen Braunschweig.
League leader Telekom Baskets Bonn came to an 85-74 (48-37) victory in the top match at ratiopharm Ulm and, after their eleventh win in a row, remain in first place with a record of 26-7 victories. Ulm (20:11) fell back to sixth place.
Crailsheim lose: Three-way battle for last play-off spot
There is a three-way battle for the last play-off place eight. Hakro Merlins Crailsheim surprisingly lost to relegated Frankfurt 70-81, while Bamberg (16-16) closed the gap on Crailsheim and BG Göttingen, who also have 16 wins and 16 losses to their name, with a 94-81 win at promoted MLP Academics Heidelberg.
Meanwhile, club legend Rickey Paulding led EWE Baskets Oldenburg to a clear 113-87 (63-38) win over s.Oliver Würzburg in his last home game. The 39-year-old US-American scored 18 points.
