Basketball Bundesliga: Bamberg Baskets fail to beat defending champions Bayern

The dream of the final only lasted eleven minutes! After a strong first quarter, underdog Bamberg Baskets were beaten 61:81 by the old and new cup winners FC Bayern Munich in the cup semi-final.

Bamberg Baskets put up a fight at the start against FC Bayern, which is still unbeaten at home this season. Top scorer Zach Copeland with 19 points scored reliably from close range, with the result that Woltmann's players turned a 9:14 deficit after five minutes into a 22:21 lead after the first quarter. The home side then stepped up its intensity in defense, making it difficult for Bamberg to get shots off, whereas Bayern pulled away point by point to lead 48:32 at the break. Bamberg was also unable to break through in front after the break and the game was already decided by 41:64 at the end of the third period. Bamberg at least pulled back to 62:76 with a 12:0 run and two buckets from downtown by Abdullah Kameric and lay-ups by Filip Stanic with 8 points and 9 rebounds, but Bayern held on to win without danger.

Bamberg Baskets' Head Coach Arne Woltmann commented: "We only had one good quarter against a very good team and Bayern kept up the pressure at all times. In order to have a chance, several players would have had to play at their absolute performance level, but that wasn't the case. Nevertheless, we are also looking at the positive aspects: We're in the last four at a title event."

Due to the international break, Bamberg Baskets do not play again until March 2 at 6:30 p.m. with a home game against Tigers Tübingen. The Woltmann team can get back into the play-in places with a win over the team in third from bottom of the table.