And then there were four teams left as the field is set for the German BBL Cup TOP FOUR with the biggest Quarter-Final showdown seeing ratiopharm ulm stopping the NINERS Chemnitz Express. Zach Copeland meanwhile saved the day for Bamberg Baskets and were joined in the TOP FOUR by reigning champions FC Bayern Munich and record winners ALBA BERLIN.
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:
Bamberg will play Bayern, Berlin face Ulm in TOP FOUR in February
The TOP FOUR of the German BBL Cup is set and four of the biggest clubs in German basketball will battle it out for the title on February 17 and 18. The Semi-Finals were drawn and six-time winners (1992, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2017, 2019) Bamberg Baskets will face reigning cup champions and three-time winners (2018, 2021, 2023) FC Bayern Munich in one Semi-Final. The other matchup has record 11-time winners (1997, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2022) ALBA BERLIN taking on 1996 champion ratiopharm ulm. The four teams have combined to win the last eight German Cup crowns and the last 14 German league titles.
Ulm stop Chemnitz Express, snap 17-game winning streak to reach TOP FOUR
The German BBL Cup Quarter-Finals showdown between current league leaders NINERS Chemnitz and second-placed reigning league champions ratiopharm ulm lived up its billing as Ulm knocked off Chemnitz 87-78 on the road to reach the TOP FOUR and snap Chemnitz’s 17-game winning streak in all competitions. It was just the second loss this season for Chemnitz, who were beaten by Ulm 90-85 in the opening game of the season in Ulm. The first half of the cup showdown was tight throughout and the score was tied at the break. Ulm started the second half with an 11-0 run to take an 11-point lead and extended the cushion to 16 points midway through the final frame and Ulm held on for the win. Ulm stand just two wins from their second cup triumph following 1996 and being able to call themselves German league and cup champions simultaneously for the first time. Ulm used their offensive rebounds much better with a 19-7 advantage in second chance points while also picking up 12 fast break points to 3 for Chemnitz. LJ Figueroa paced Ulm with 19 points and 5 rebounds, Juan Nunez and Georginho de Paula both scored 17 points and Trevion Williams collected 10 points, 16 rebounds and 5 assists. Kevin Yebo was outstanding for Chemnitz in the loss with 23 points, 6 rebounds and 1 assist while DeAndre Lansdowne had 16 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists.
Copeland saves day, Bamberg down Vechta after blowing 21-point lead
Bamberg Baskets remained alive for a seventh German BBL Cup but only after wasting a 21-point fourth quarter lead and coming back to beat RASTA Vechta 88-87 on the road to reach the Semi-Finals. Bamberg trailed by 13 points in the first quarter but took control of the game and led by 21 points with 8 minutes left. Vechta came back to take the lead before Zach Copeland saved Bamberg with a three-pointer with 11 seconds to go. Bamberg are now two wins from their seventh German Cup win following 1992, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2017 and 2019. Vechta meanwhile nearly missed out on their first-ever appearance in the TOP FOUR. Bamberg shot 51.7 percent from the field including a white-hot 77.3 percent on two-pointers to go with 13 made three-pointers. Vechta knocked down 14 three-pointers but converted just 44.8 percent for the game. Copeland did everything for Bamberg with 6 three-pointers in scoring 33 points to go with 2 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals. Trey Woodbury added 15 points and 6 rebounds in the win. Tommy Kuhse nearly helped Vechta to the magical comeback victory with 21 points and 7 assists while Joschka Ferner chipped in 18 points with 5 three-pointers and 5 rebounds.
Defending champs Bayern beat Bonn, stay alive to defend cup
FC Bayern Munich remained alive to defend their German BBL Cup crown as they defeated Telekom Baskets Bonn 86-78 on the road to reach the TOP FOUR. Bayern also exacted a bit of revenge for their loss in Bonn on November 12, when Munich lost 88-83 in overtime. This time around, Bayern jumped ahead by 11 points in the second quarter but the game was still close early in the third quarter when the guests went on an 11-0 run to take a 16-point advantage. Bayern must grab two more wins to collect their fourth Cup trophy following 2018, 2021 and 2023. The southern Germans have now reached the Semi-Finals for the eighth time. Bonn were hoping to finally get back to the TOP FOUR for the first time since 2019. Bayern shot 55.7 percent for the game and held Bonn to just 43.3 percent while also winning the second chance points stat 17-8. Sylvain Francisco came off the bench to lead Bayern with 22 points and 5 assists with Devin Booker collecting 16 points and 8 rebounds and Isaac Bonga chipping in 12 points and 8 rebounds. Christian Sengfelder poured in 21 points off the bench with 6 rebounds while Bonn’s starting five combined for just 19 points.
Berlin exact revenge on Wolves, reach 12th straight cup semi
It was business as usual with a slight case of revenge as ALBA BERLIN defeated SYNTAINICS MBC 85-70 on the road to reach the German BBL Cup TOP FOUR - the 12th straight appearance in the cup Semi-Finals. The victory served as revenge as well after SYNTAINICS MBC sensationally defeated ALBA 108-75 in Berlin three weeks ago in the league, the Wolves first ever win over ALBA in the German capital. In the cup quarters, Berlin raced ahead to 20 point lead 29-9 after 10 minutes and watched as the hosts pulled within 5 points midway through the third quarter but never challenged the rest of the way. Berlin need just two wins to secure their record 12th German Cup title. SYNTAINICS MBC were hoping to reach the TOP FOUR for the first time. The hosts shot just 31.9 percent for the game including 24.2 percent from long range. Johannes Thiemann paced six Berlin players in double figures with 17 points while Matt Thomas scored 13 points and Tim Schneider picked up 12 points and 9 rebounds. Stephon Jelks was SYNTAINICS MBC’s leading scorer with 13 points and Martin Breunig contributed 9 points and 10 rebounds.
Tübingen add Greek talent Kalaitzakis, keep Masters until mid-January
Tigers Tübingen made some headlines as the promoted club added a high level Greek talent in signing Georgios Kalaitzakis until the end of the season. The 24-year-old Kalaitzakis, whose twin brother Panagiotis also plays professionally, comes to Germany after playing with Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos Athens. Tübingen also have decided to keep Javon Masters until the end of the first half of the season in middle January. The 29-year-old American came to the club in the middle of October to fill in for the injured Aatu Kivimäki. The Finn’s return has been delayed so the club will keep Masters on board a bit longer.
Josh Gray added as new point guard for Heidelberg
MLP Academics Heidelberg have added reinforcements for their backcourt as they signed point guard Josh Gray until the end of the season. The 30-year-old American will replace the departed Mike McGuirl, who left Heidelberg for Israeli club Hapoel Haifa.
Oldenburg part ways with Kyle Foster
EWE Baskets Oldenburg have parted ways with shooting guard Kyle Foster with immediate effect. The club terminated its contract with the 24-year-old American, who has since joined Serbian club FMP Belgrade.
Player of the Week
No surprise here as Zach Copeland takes Player of the Week honors in carrying Bamberg Baskets to the win over RASTA Vechta. Copeland came off the bench and scored 33 points on 10-of-16 shots including 6-of-11 three-pointers and 7-of-8 free throws to go with 2 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals for an efficiency of 33.
German Top Five of the Week
G: Isaac Bonga, FC Bayern Munich
Bonga played a major role in the win over Telekom Baskets Bonn as he tallied 12 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.
F: Joschka Ferner, RASTA Vechta
Ferner almost helped Vechta to a miracle comeback win over Bamberg Baskets as he scored 18 points with 5 three-pointers to go with 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 3 steals.
F: Johannes Thiemann, ALBA BERLIN
The world champion continued his outstanding season as he collected 17 points including 11-of-16 free throws, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals in the team’s win over SYNTAINICS MBC.
C: Christian Sengfelder, Telekom Baskets Bonn
Sengfelder has really found his form of late and he played a great game in Bonn’s loss to FC Bayern Munich with 21 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal.
C: Kevin Yebo, NINERS Chemnitz
Yebo showed no signs of an injury that forced him to miss a month until mid-November as he picked up 23 points, 6 rebounds and 1 assist in the loss to ratiopharm ulm.
Young Guns
Luc van Slooten, 21, SF, RASTA Vechta
Van Slooten hasn’t been able to really take another step forward this season but he played a nice role in Vechta’s game with Bamberg Baskets with 6 points on 3-of-6 shots (0/1 threes), 2 rebounds and 1 block in 18:43 minutes.
Ralph Hounnou, 21, PG, SYNTAINICS MBC
Hounnou is slowly earning more playing time and he had 6:06 minutes against ALBA BERLIN and had 1 assist while missing his only three-point shot.
Tobias Jensen, 19, SG, ratiopharm ulm
Jensen has had some strong games and against NINERS Chemnitz the Danish talent played 7:19 minutes and went scoreless on 0-of-1 shooting and 0-of-2 free throws but did grab 1 rebound.
World champions Germany vs Olympic silver medalists France in July
The German Basketball Federation DBB has set up a massive exhibition game ahead of the 2024 Olympics as the world champions Germany will face off against 2024 Olympics hosts and 2020 Olympics silver medallists France in Cologne. The game in the LANXESS Arena is scheduled for July 6.
Germans Abroad
While German hoops fans have been watching Zach Ensminger be one of the revelations of the easyCredit BBL season so far, his younger brother Jacob Ensminger is trying his hand at college basketball in the United States. He is playing at Santa Clara - along with former ALBA BERLIN talent Christoph Till - and Ensminger had one of his best games on November 29 with 9 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. Through nine games, the 19-year-old is averaging 3.1 points, 3.0 rebounds and 0.6 steals.
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