The Skyliners Frankfurt have reached the second round of the BBL Cup with great difficulty. The club from Hesse prevailed 71:68 (32:34) against the Pro-A team Gladiators Trier
New signing Malik Parsons drained a floater with just over a minute remaining after former Rostock player Behnam Yakchali had put Trier ahead from the three-point line shortly beforehand. John Mann had the chance to seal victory for the home side shortly before the end, but his three-pointer just clattered onto the hoop and Trey Calvin drained two more free throws for Frankfurt.
The rookie guard was Frankfurt’s best player for a long time. He scored 21 points (7/12 FG) and got to his spots almost at will. Parsons (20, 7/11) also showed a good approach with his dynamism. Yakchali (14, 5/13) was the best scorer for Trier. Ex-national player Maik Zirbes (7, 1/6 FG), on the other hand, remained pale in just under 18 minutes and had no luck at all, especially in finishing.
Frankfurt had prevailed in game 5 in Trier in the semi-finals of the Pro-A playoffs last year and Denis Wucherer’s team had the better end this time too. Although Trier quickly built a double-digit lead (19:8), the visitors worked their way back into the game with a 9:0 run. A jumper by Calvin cut the deficit to 34:32 at the break from the home side’s perspective
Marten Linßen makes it exciting again for Trier
Frankfurt now defended much better, the help was finally there. As a result, it no longer mattered that new signing Kamaka Hepa and captain Lorenz Brennecke were missing two mainstays in the frontcourt through injury. The visitors turned the game around at lightning speed and led by +8 midway through the period, before center Marten Linßen (13, 6 rebounds) snapped up several offensive rebounds and brought Trier back into contention. The underdog punished Frankfurt’s small ball, but it countered with individual class and was able to rely on its guards in particular in the end. As a team, however, Frankfurt only scored three out of 16.
Frankfurt is now through to the second round, which will be played on October 12 and 13. The Skyliners’ opponent has not yet been determined and will be played tomorrow, Saturday, between Tübingen and Oldenburg.
