Europe Cup: Brose Bamberg lose quarter-final first leg

Brose Bamberg lost the FIBA Europe Cup quarter-final first leg against BC Kalev in the Estonian capital Tallinn with 77:80. In the second leg on 15 March in the Brose Arena at home, the Amiel team now needs a win with a four-point difference to enter the semi-finals of the Europe Cup.

Bamberg started furiously: after only four minutes, the Amiel boys were already ahead by double digits, especially centre Gabriel Chachashvili excelled with great passes, ball wins and a crashing dunk at 0:10. Bamberg kept the lead constant until 9:20, but since the Estonians were better against Bamberg's defence, the lead melted down to 19:24. It got tighter in the second quarter, the hosts could equalise twice, but the Amiel team found the direct answer both times through Amir Bell. With a buzzer beater almost from the halfway line, Spencer Reaves increased the lead to 41:47 for the guests at the break.

After the break, the Amiel team seemed to have the game under control despite the loud crowd of 1800 Estonian fans in the small hall. Gabriel Chachashvili and Christian Sengfelder quickly scored for a double-digit lead, captain Sengfelder took the biggest advantage with a beautiful hook shot after 24 minutes. But from then on, the game changed - the Bamberg team's easy throws in front were no longer falling, and at the back there were suddenly gaps for the hosts' offensive. For six minutes until the end of the quarter, the Amiel team could not score another point, so Kalev went on a 15:0 run to take a 61:57 lead into the final quarter. Playmaker Patrick Miller initiated the turnaround for Bamberg - a basket, then the ball win and pass for Sengfelder's three-pointer, Solomon Young added the next distance throw for 74:69. Bamberg was back in the game, and Center scored two free throws with nine seconds to go to make it 78:77. The last attack belonged to the Estonians, who scored once again with a tip-in to make it 80:77.

Oren Amiel: "We started the game strongly and also after half-time it was really good. But in between we lost the rhythm again and again. However, the boys never gave up, even in the bad phases they always stood together and pushed each other energetically. I think we have a good chance in the second leg, we know what to expect and with our fans behind us we want to make it to the semi-finals."

On Saturday, 11 March 2023, Brose Bamberg will be looking to extend their Bundesliga streak of four straight wins. From 8.30 p.m., the Amiel boys are guests of the MBC in Weißenfels - and want to take revenge for the avoidable 90:98 home defeat from the first leg.