The Round of 16 of the German BBL Cup was highlighted by Ronaldo Segu’s buzzer-beater three-pointer to give Bamberg Baskets a win over ratiopharm ulm. Elsewhere, record champions ALBA BERLIN survived a near upset at HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim and reigning champions FC Bayern Munich beat Telekom Baskets Bonn.
In this section, we break out our English language skills and inform you about the latest news from the German easyCredit Basketball Bundesliga. If you’re short on time but still want your fill of Germany’s top basketball league then you are in the right place. Every week David Hein (www.heinnews.com) brings you up-to-date in German basketball – the easyCredit BBL short and sweet:
German BBL Cup Quarter-Finals: Bayern host Vechta, Berlin travel to Bamberg
The draw for the German BBL Cup Quarter-Finals on December 7 and 8 were drawn and here are the pairings:
BG Göttingen - SKYLINERS
SYNTAINICS MBC - MLP Academics Heidelberg
FC Bayern Munich - RASTA Vechta
Bamberg Baskets - ALBA BERLIN
Segu buzzer-beater ends Ulm’s perfect start to the season, sends Bamberg into quarters
Ronaldo Segu buried a three-pointer at the buzzer as Bamberg Baskets fought back from 15 points down to hand ratiopharm ulm their first loss of the season with a 103-100 victory to reach the German BBL Cup Quarter-Finals. Ulm had the better start and raced away to a 15-point advantage early in the second quarter. Bamberg rallied and pulled ahead in the third period. The hosts were up by nine points with 6 minutes to play but Ulm knotted the game on a Marcio Santos alley-oop with 2.4 seconds to go. That set up Segu’s heroics, collecting a pass from Ibrahim Watson and draining the buzzer-beater triple to send Freak City into a frenzy. Bamberg shot 65 percent on two-pointers as well as 56 percent from long range while making 20 of 30 free throws compared to 8 of 14 from the line for Ulm. Kyle Lofton was Bamberg’s top scorer with 25 points, Segu finished with 22 points and 6 assists and Watson chipped in 11 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Alfonso Plummer drained 7 of 9 three-pointers for 23 points, Ben Saraf added 20 points and Justinian Jessup picked up 19 points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists in the loss.
Ulm to become first German club to play NBA exhibition game in USA
ratiopharm ulm will make history on Wednesday as they become the first team from the easyCredit BBL to play an NBA exhibition game in the United States. Ulm will take on the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday at the Moda Center in Portland. The reason for the invitation is Ulm’s history of bringing in top level young talent. This year’s Ulm team features the star teenage duo of Ben Saraf and Noa Essengue, both of whom are expected to be drafted next year.
Berlin survive upset against Crailsheim after Blunt misses 3 free throws
The record 11-time champions ALBA BERLIN needed a magical comeback plus three missed free throws in the closing seconds by HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim to survive against the ProA second division club 75-74 to move into the Quarter-Finals. Crailsheim led the entire game and were up by 17 points in the third quarter. The advantage was still 14 points with 8 minutes to go when Berlin started their comeback. They finished the game with a 19-8 surge, tying the game 74-74 on Justin Bean’s putback with 52 seconds left and going up on Martin Hermannsson’s free throw with 5.9 seconds left. But Tyreese Blunt missed all three of his free throws with 1.6 seconds to go and Berlin advanced. Berlin survived 20 turnovers thanks to holding Crailsheim to 41 percent shooting, including 29 percent from long range. Matteo Spagnolo was ALBA’s top scorer with 16 points, Trevion Williams had 13 points and Hermannsson tallied 10 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists. Vincent Shahid scored 15 points and Anthony Gaines and Daniel Keppeler both had 13 points in a losing effort.
Edwards comes off bench, gets holders Bayern past Bonn on road
The German BBL Cup holders FC Bayern Munich advanced to the Quarter-Finals as they knocked off Telekom Baskets Bonn 991-85 on the road. Bonn led by 11 points in the second quarter but Bayern took control of the game with an 18-5 run spanning the final two quarters for a 12-point advantage. Bonn got within two points but could not score in the final 58 seconds. Bayern took the rebound battle 36-27 and held the hosts to just 43 percent shooting while hitting 55 percent from the field. Carsen Edwards came off the bench to lead Bayern with 23 points - all of them in the second half, Andi Obst scored 16 points and Johannes Voigtmann added 13 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Darius McGhee had 24 points and 6 assists in the loss.
Giffey out weeks with broken finger for Bayern
FC Bayern Munich will be without their world champion forward Niels Giffey for weeks after he underwent surgery on a broken left ring finger. The 33-year-old suffered the injury in Bayern’s game against BG Göttingen.
Wolves rally from 18 points down, bounce Ludwigsburg out of cup
SYNTAINICS MBC booked a spot in the German BBL Cup Quarter-Finals by rallying from 18 points down to beat MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg 85-77 on the road. Ludwigsburg dominated the start of the game and were up by 18 points early in the second quarter. The guests fought their way back into the game and led in the third quarter. Ludwigsburg were down just 3 points with 98 seconds left but were outscored 11-6 the rest of the way. Wolves made 25 of 29 free throws compared to 10 of 16 for Ludwigsburg. Michael Devoe led five Wolves players in double figures with 20 points while Tyren Johnson had 17 points and Spencer Reaves added 14 points. Joel Scott scored 23 points and Hunter Maldonado chipped in 21 points for Ludwigsburg.
Mikesell carries Heidelberg past Chemnitz at home
MLP Academics Heidelberg moved into the Quarter-Finals of the German BBL Cup after beating NINERS Chemnitz 78-73 at home, snapping an eight-game losing streak against Chemnitz dating back to January 2019. Heidelberg were up by nine points after 10 minutes but trailed midway through the second quarter. The hosts reclaimed the lead and led by 11 points in the third frame before holding Chemnitz to just one free throw in the final minute. Heidelberg forced 21 Chemnitz turnovers and held them to just 37 percent shooting. Ryan Mikesell was masterful in the win with 29 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals and Damariae Horne added 13 points. Victor Bailey was Chemnitz’s top scorer with 22 points.
Göttingen fight past Würzburg at home in statistical anomaly
BG Göttingen should be happy to have reached the Quarter-Finals as they survived a statistical anomaly in beating FIT/One Würzburg Baskets 86-78 at home. The game was tight throughout with Göttingen taking the biggest lead of eight points as they allowed just one Würzburg free throw in the final 2 minutes. Göttingen committed 21 turnovers and allowed 24 offensive rebounds for 27 second chance points but still won thanks to shooting 53 percent from the field including 48 percent on three-pointers and making 23 of 29 free throws compared to 13 of 16 for Würzburg, who also shot only 37 percent for the game. Kostja Mushidi paced Göttingen with 20 points, Jimmy Boeheim had 18 points and Zach Ensminger tallied 13 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals. Jhivvan Jackson scored 20 points with 5 assists and Zac Seljaas collected 17 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 steals in the loss.
Göttingen add guard reinforcements with Holder
BG Göttingen added reinforcements for the point guard position by signing Tra Holder until the end of the season. The 29-year-old American played last season with KFUM Jämatland Basket in Sweden. Holder, who holds a Thailand passport, has experience in Germany, having playing for Frankfurt and Nürnberg in the past.
Frankfurt lead holds up, get past Oldenburg at home
SKYLINERS booked a spot in the Quarter-Finals of the German BBL Cup after defeating EWE Baskets Oldenburg 85-79 at home. Frankfurt began taking over in the second quarter and blew the game open with a 31-point lead midway through the third frame. Oldenburg fought back to make things interesting, getting within 6 points with 48 seconds to go but could not get closer the rest of the way. Frankfurt compensated for 23 turnovers by hitting 55 percent from long range and holding Oldenburg to just 39 percent from the field and 25 percent on three-pointers. Trey Calvin paced Frankfurt with 27 points, Malik Parsons scored 24 points and Booker Coplin added 15 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists. Justin Jaworski scored 29 points in the loss.
Frankfurt lose another big man, Knauf out indefinitely
SKYLINERS will be without another big man as Jacob Knauf will be out indefinitely with knee pain. Frankfurt were already missing Kamaka Hepa, who is rehabbing from a hand injury.
Aminu, Campbell combine for 45 as Vechta take down Braunschweig
RASTA Vechta rolled into the Quarter-Finals with a comfortable 89-68 victory at Basketball Löwen Braunschweig. Vechta surged ahead by 12 points in the first quarter and were never threatened the rest of the game. Vechta committed only 9 turnovers and shot 50 percent on three-pointers while Braunschweig made just 38 percent of their shots including only 22 percent from long range. Joel Aminu led the way for Vechta with 25 points and Tyger Campbell had 20 points and 6 assists. Arnas Velicka collected 15 points and 6 assists while three other Braunschweig players had 11 points.
Player of the Week
Ryan Mikesell takes Player of the Week honors as he guided MLP Academics Heidelberg to the win over NINERS Chemnitz with an efficiency of 34. The small forward scored 29 points on 7 of 14 shooting (2/2 threes) and 13 of 13 free throws with 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals.
German Top Five of the Week
G: Joel Aminu, RASTA Vechta
Aminu helped Vechta knock off Basketball Löwen Braunschweig with 25 points on 4 threes, 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal.
G: Andreas Obst, FC Bayern Munich
Obst played a major role in Bayern defeating Telekom Baskets Bonn with 16 points, 1 rebound, 4 assists and 1 steal.
F: Kevin Wohlrath, Bamberg Baskets
Wohlrath drained 3 three-pointers in scoring 13 points off the bench to go with 1 rebound and 1 assist in Bamberg’s win over ratiopharm ulm.
F: Louis Olinde, ALBA BERLIN
Olinde contributed 12 points, 4 rebounds and 1 steal in Berlin’s comeback win over HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim.
F: Daniel Keppeler, HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim
Keppeler nearly helped Crailsheim shock ALBA BERLIN with 13 points, 2 rebounds and 1 block.
Young Guns
Hannes Steinbach, 18, PF, FIT/One Würzburg Baskets
Steinbach played 15:33 minutes against BG Göttingen and contributed 9 points on 4 of 5 shooting (1/1 threes), 8 rebounds and 1 assist.
Gian Aydinoglu, 21, PG, Basketball Löwen Braunschweig
Aydinoglu collected 3 points 0 of 4 shooting (0/1 threes) and 3 of 4 on free throws, 3 assists and 1 steal in 16:21 minutes against RASTA Vechta.
Jacob Patrick, 20, SG, MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg
Patrick started against SYNTAINICS MBC and scored 5 points on 2 of 5 shots (1/3 threes) with 1 rebound in 21:19 minutes.
Germans Abroad
Maodo Lo moved this off-season from Milan to Paris Basketball and remained with a Turkish Airlines EuroLeague team. The German point guard picked up 6 points, 1 rebound and 2 assists against his former team in the EuroLeague last week. Over the weekend, Lo collected 7 points, 2 rebounds, 7 assists and 1 steal in Paris’ win over Dijon in the French league.
