The German Cup TOP FOUR is set and the four Semi-Finals teams - ALBA BERLIN, BMA365 Bamberg Baskets, EWE Baskets Oldenburg and FC Bayern Munich - have combined to win the domestic cup 23 times, including 15 straight from 2009 to 2024. The biggest thriller in the Quarter-Finals was Oldenburg getting a last second game-winning three-pointer from Chris Clemons to beat RASTA Vechta. Meanwhile the top news from teams eliminated in the German Cup comes from winless Veolia Towers Hamburg, who continued their shakeup by releasing another guard and signing a new one.
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 (Taking The Charge) brings you up-to-date in German basketball – the easyCredit BBL short and sweet:
German Cup TOP FOUR set: Bayern vs Bamberg again; Berlin face Oldenburg
The TOP FOUR of the 2025-26 German Cup is set with FC Bayern Munich facing BMA365 Bamberg Baskets and ALBA BERLIN squaring off against EWE Baskets Oldenburg. The four clubs, who will do battle on February 21 and 22, 2026, have combined to win 23 German Cup crowns including 15 in a row from 2009 to 2024. Last season’s winners SYNTAINICS MBC were eliminated in the Round of 16 while Artland Dragons are the last winner besides those four clubs back in 2008. The five-time winners Bayern (1968, 2018, 2021, 2023, 2024) will be playing six-time champs Bamberg (1992, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2017, 2019) for the second straight Semi-Finals. Bamberg beat Bayern last season before losing to Weißenfels in the Final. Oldenburg’s sole cup trophy came in 2015 while Berlin are the record champions with 11 titles (1997, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2022).
Clemons last-second game winner sends Oldenburg past Vechta
EWE Baskets Oldenburg will get a chance to add a second German Cup title to their crown from 2015 as they defeated RASTA Vechta 72-69 on the road with Chris Clemons hitting the game-winner with 1 second left in the game. In a Lower Saxony derby, Vechta managed to open a 10-point lead early in the second quarter but lost control of the game in a third quarter that went to Oldenburg 26-16. The final stanza was tight, but Oldenburg held Vechta to just 3 points in the final 2:51 minutes, and Clemons provided the heroics in the end. Clemons finished with 4 triples in scoring 20 points and Nicholas Tischler added 14 points. Alonzo Verge’s 15 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists were not enough in the loss.
Bayern too strong for Trier in cup battle of top two teams in league
FC Bayern Munich showed their strength as the five-time German Cup champions handled comfortably VET-CONCEPT Gladiators Trier 96-80 on the road to reach the TOP FOUR. In a showdown of the top two teams in the easyCredit BBL standings, second placed Bayern built a 10-point lead already in the first quarter and never really let the surprise league leaders Trier get back into the game. Munich are shooting to pull even with BMA365 Bamberg Baskets with their sixth cup crown while Trier were hoping to add a third title after 1998 and 2001. Bayern just had too many weapons with five players tallying at least 12 points - led by Justinian Jessup’s 14 points while Andi Obst had 13 points and Johannes Voigtmann totaled 12 points and 6 rebounds. Eli Brooks scored 19 points with 6 rebounds and 5 assists in the loss.
Bamberg defense holds strong, down Heidelberg for third straight TOP FOUR
Six-time cup champions BMA365 Bamberg Baskets reached the TOP FOUR for the third straight season as they won a defensive battle at home 72-66 over MLP Academics Heidelberg. Last season’s cup finalists Bamberg took the lead for good in the second quarter and the lead was double digits in the third quarter. Heidelberg cut an 11-point cushion with 9 minutes to play down to four but Cobe Williams hit two three-pointers before Isi Watson’s dagger triple with 29 seconds remaining. Bamberg are now two wins from their first German Cup crown since 2019 while the 1977 and 1978 cup champs Heidelberg last reached the Semi-Finals in the 1977-78 season. Demarcus Demonia led the way with 21 points and 6 rebounds while Williams added 13 points. Michael Weathers tallied 20 points and 7 rebounds in the loss.
Berlin run away from Jena in second half, reach 22nd Semi-Finals
ALBA BERLIN booked their ticket to the TOP FOUR as the record 11-time German Cup champions ran away from Science City Jena with a 91-78 home victory. After a tight first half, Jena were leading early in third quarter it was tied when Berlin mounted a 15-0 run to close the frame and blow the game open and reach the Semi-Finals for the 22nd time. Jena had reached the cup Quarter-Finals for only the second time after 2019. Martin Hermannsson and 19-year-old Jack Kayil both poured in 18 points and combined for 7 rebounds and 5 assists and Justin Bean chipped in 11 points and 10 rebounds for Berlin. Great Isobar had 17 points and Lorenz Bank tallied 11 points and 10 rebounds in the loss.
Hamburg shakeup continues: Towers release Stewart, sign Devon Daniels
Veolia Towers Hamburg continued their shakeup in the roster to finally find something that works, releasing Carlos Stewart and signing Devon Daniels. The 27-year-old Daniels most recently played with Lithuanian club Juventus and Hamburg hope he can add scoring to the team as he averaged 16.5 points and 3.9 rebounds in Lithuania. Juventus had signed Daniels in the summer as a successor to Hamburg playmaker LJ Thorpe. And now they are playing alongside one another in Germany. Hamburg, who have lost all 14 of their games thus far this season, this week also released Stewart, who in the summer signed a two-year contract with the club. Hamburg already parted ways with American guard Eric Reed Jr, who has since signed on with MLP Academics Heidelberg.
Würzburg bring Schweiger back to the Bundesliga
Fitness First Würzburg Baskets added reinforcements for their team by bringing forward Ryan Schweiger back to the Bundesliga on a two-month contract. The 26-year-old Schweiger, who played three years with RASTA Vechta, arrives from Lithuania and will help Würzburg deal with injuries to Alen Pjanic, Brae Ivey and Davion Mintz.
Vechta sign Coplin away from Ludwigsburg
RASTA Vechta reacted to their injury concerns by signing Booker Coplin away from MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg. The guard leaves Ludwigsburg where he really didn’t have an impact. The 27-year-old Coplin will help Vechta as the club is currently dealing with injuries to Lloyd Pandi, Tommy Kuhse, Joschka Ferner and Tevin Brown.
Harris leaves Bonn for Italian second division
Telekom Baskets Bonn and Jordan Harris have parted ways with the guard signing with Fortitude Bologna in the Italian second division. Harris was signed in August on a deal until the end of November after the injury to Zach Cooks. But Harris himself was fighting injury issues and appeared in only one game.
Player of the Week
The Player of the Week for the German Cup Quarter-Finals round goes to Chris Clemons of EWE Baskets Oldenburg for his efficiency of 24 in the win over RASTA Vechta. The guard finished with 20 points on 5 of 12 shooting - including the game-winning three-pointer with 1 second left - and 6 of 6 free throws, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals.
German Top Five of the Week
G: Jack Kayil, ALBA BERLIN
Kayil shined for Berlin against Science City Jena as the 19-year-old collected 18 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals off the bench.
F: Nolan Adekunle, VET-CONCEPT Gladiators Trier
Adekunle had a strong game against FC Bayern Munich but his 12 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist and 3 blocks were not enough.
F: Nicholas Tischler, EWE Baskets Oldenburg
Tischler played a major role in the team’s win over RASTA Vechta with 14 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.
F: Lorenz Bank, Science City Jena
Bank tied his career high with 11 points - including 3 three-pointers - and set a new personal best mark with 10 rebounds to go with 2 steals and 1 block in the loss to ALBA BERLIN.
C: Johannes Voigtmann, FC Bayern Munich
Voigtmann was force for Bayern against VET-CONCEPT Gladiators Trier with 12 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 block.
Germans Abroad
Johann Grünloh has been as good as expected in his debut in US college basketball as the former RASTA Vechta big man already has dominated around the paint for the University of Virginia. Grünloh is averaging 10.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.3 blocks through four games. He collected 4 points, 11 rebounds and 7 blocks against North Carolina Central University in his second game and then tallied a season-high 16 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks in the most recent game against Marshall.
