BBL: Bamberg Baskets Show Courage After Big Deficit

The Bamberg Baskets showed a strong comeback against title contender Ratiopharm Ulm but ultimately couldn't reward themselves for their great fight. The 77:92 score from the perspective of the Upper Franconians is misleading about the course of the game, as Bamberg was on par in the final quarter. The game was particularly emotional for coach Anton Gavel, who returned to his old stomping grounds, and for veteran Karsten Tadda, who set a unique record with his 639th Bundesliga appearance.

In the first half, Bamberg struggled and was already trailing 28:50 before the break, but at least reduced the deficit to 37:53 by halftime. Offensively error-prone and often a step too late defensively, a debacle seemed possible. But led by top scorer Ronaldo Segu, Bamberg started an impressive third quarter. Brandon Horvath, who scored from outside and worked under the basket, as well as Filip Stanic, brought new momentum. Moritz Krimmer even brought the guests within 62:67 with an And-One. After Horvath's equalizer to 76:76, the game was suddenly wide open, before Ulm decided the game with a 16:1 run in the last minutes. Especially Ulm's center Marcio Santos hit two three-pointers in crunch time – too much for the fighting but offensively one-dimensional Bamberg team.

On Sunday, May 11, 2025, the Gavel boys will face Rasta Vechta in the last game of the 2024/25 season. Additionally, after the game, Karsten Tadda will end his long Bundesliga career. With then 640 Bundesliga games in 18 years as a professional, the 36-year-old will have set a record for eternity. Jump is at 16:30.