From underdog to favourite – and back. Bavaria’s basketball players also miss their second match point. It comes to the big showdown in Bonn. And fear must not play a role.
Even Andrea Trinchieri is powerless against human habits. When Bayern Munich’s basketball players were still leading 2-0 in the semi-final series against Telekom Baskets Bonn a few days ago, their coach had warned against recklessness in view of the deceptive lead. Such thoughts are human, but he wants to fight against them, Trinchieri said. After the 80:83 in the fourth game of the best-of-five series on Monday night, it is clear: at least this fight was lost.
Now the Munich team has a very last chance on Wednesdayto make the dream final in the Basketball Bundesliga against Alba Berlin perfect. “Of course, the momentum has changed. We have to go to Bonn, it will be packed there,” said the Italian. He attributes the more uncomfortable role of favourite to the Baskets after their comeback – again.
Trinchieri calls on his team to raise the level. “Whoever is afraid of going into the fifth game and winning should stay at home,” the coach appealed to his team in no uncertain terms. Anything can happen in the all-or-nothing game, he said. “It will be difficult, but let’s see,” the southpaw said meekly.
On Monday, Bayern allowed the visitors a few too many offensive rebounds in the seething Audi Dome and allowed themselves too many ball losses and misses from the free-throw line. “What I don’t understand: In the first two games we were very focused on defence and rebounds. In the third and fourth game we had a regression here,” analysed Trinchieri, whose team had only come out of the first quarter with a lead.
10:0 run sets the course
At the end of the third period, Bonn turned up the heat and Jeremy Morgan led the guests to a 66:60 with spectacular baskets during a 10:0 run. “Bonn had a good shooting percentage,” Bayern’s shooting guard Nihad Djedovic also acknowledged without envy. After a distance throw by Bonn’s league MVP Peter Jackson-Cartwright to make it 83:77, the guests saved the narrow lead over time.
In the end, nerves decided the game, and they will probably be in even greater demand on Wednesday. “We are playing the fifth game in Bonn to win it and we will give everything to make it to the finals,” Djedovic said. At least the recklessness that Trinchieri has been suspicious of lately should have long since evaporated by then.
