The opening week of the 2024-25 easyCredit BBL season had some major thrills as reigning champions FC Bayern Munich first made a statement by beating NINERS Chemnitz but then lost at MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg. Germany’s other EuroLeague team, ALBA BERLIN, slipped up in their opener at Veolia Towers Hamburg and ratiopharm ulm’s teenagers Ben Saraf and Noa Essengue shined to start the year.
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:
Bayern give statement win over Chemnitz to start season
What a start to the season for the reigning champions as FC Bayern Munich provided a statement victory right off the bat, beating NINERS Chemnitz 73-59 in the opening game of the season at home. In a Round 3 game that was pushed forward, Bayern took control of the game with a 13-0 run to start the second half. Bayern forced 20 Chemnitz turnovers and made 22 of 28 free throws compared to just 2 of 3 from the foul line for the guests. Bayern’s top scorer was Oscar da Silva with 19 points and 8 rebounds while Devin Booker scored 16 points and Vladimir Lucic picked up 12 points and 6 rebounds. Aher Uguak led Chemnitz with 11 points and DeAndre Lansdowne added 10 points and 5 assists in the loss.
Ludwigsburg defense shuts down Bayern late for opening win
MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg showed right away that they will be a tough defensive team as they shut down reigning champions FC Bayern Munich late in the game for a 78-70 home victory for their first win of the season.
Ludwigsburg led by 15 points in the first quarter and Bayern only jumped ahead midway through the final frame. But the hosts finished the game on a 10-1 run over the final 3:48 minutes to win the game. Bayern shot only 19 percent from long range and committed 20 turnovers compared to just 8 miscues for Ludwigsburg. Ezra Manjon led Ludwigsburg with 15 points, Hunter Maldonado added 14 points and 5 steals and Jacob Patrick had 13 points off the bench. Niels Giffey scored 16 points as Bayern’s top scorer and Oscar da Silva had 12 points.
Hamburg look past cup loss, race away from Berlin
Veolia Towers Hamburg shrugged off their disappointing exit in the German BBL Cup by racing away late from ALBA BERLIN 97-80 at home for a rare victory. Hamburg, who entered the game with a 2-10 all-time record against Berlin, twice lost 11-point leads but went on a 21-2 run after the second downspell spanning the final two quarters to pull away with the win. Hamburg shot 54 percent for the game, including 68 percent on two-pointers and forced 20 ALBA turnovers. Brae Ivey collected 22 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists and Kur Kuath had 15 points and 7 rebounds in the win. Jonas Mattisseck was Berlin’s top scorer with 12 points.
Teenagers Saraf, Essengue shine in resilient Ulm’s thrilling win at Chemnitz
ratiopharm ulm opened their season with a resilient 90-86 victory at NINERS Chemnitz thanks to their two star teenagers Ben Saraf and Noa Essengue, who helped Ulm fight off multiple comebacks and get the win. Chemnitz fell behind by 13 points twice and both times pulled within one point but failed to come through with Essengue hitting a big three-pointer and two free throws in the closing stages. Ulm shot 53 percent from the field and Chemnitz hit only 49 percent of their shots, including just 24 percent from long range. Saraf didn't disappoint in his first game with 21 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals in 25 minutes off the bench. Essengue finished with 15 points and Alfonso Plummer added 20 points. Chemnitz, who dropped to 0-2, had Jaron Johnson score 22 points with 7 rebounds and 7 assists.
Frankfurt impressive in win at Göttingen in return to league
SKYLINERS made an impressive return to the easyCredit BBL by racing past BG Göttingen 100-72 on the road. The promoted guests jumped ahead 29-12 after just 10 minutes and the score was 55-30 at halftime. Frankfurt shot a scorching 66 percent from the field including 48 percent from long range while holding Göttingen to 42 percent shooting. Malik Parsons paced Frankfurt with 27 points and 5 assists off the bench while fellow reserve Einaras Tubutis scored 17 points with 9 rebounds and Booker Coplin tallied 14 points. Demajeo Wiggins and Jimmy Boeheim both scored 18 points to lead Göttingen.
Scuka stars in Braunschweig beat down of Bamberg
Basketball Löwen Braunschweig have found another gem of a young international prospect as Luka Scuka dominated in Braunschweig’s 96-77 road victory over Bamberg Baskets to start the season. Braunschweig pulled away with a 36-19 third quarter for a second win after beating Science City Jena in the first round of the German BBL Cup. Braunschweig out-rebounded Bamberg 47 to 32 and held the hosts to just 40 percent shooting. The 22-year-old Slovenian Scuka drained 4 three-pointers in scoring 26 points to go with 10 rebounds and Barra Njie poured in 21 points. Bamberg lost despite KeyShawn Feazell and Ibrahim Watson-Boye both scoring 19 points.
Rostock bounce back from cup disappointment, down Wolves in OT
ROSTOCK SEAWOLVES rebounded from their opening round exit in the BBL German Cup by fighting past SYNTAINICS MBC 87-84 in overtime on the road for their first victory of the season. Rostock held the biggest lead at 8 points in the fourth quarter but the hosts went ahead with 49 seconds to go. Rostock would force overtime and get the big plays in the extra session for the win. Rostock held the hosts to just 39 percent from the field while hitting 43 percent of their three-pointers. Bryce Hamilton led Rostock in scoring with 23 points and Aigars Skele tallied 20 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists. Spencer Reaves paced five Wolves players in double figures with 15 points including Ivan Tkachenko with 13 points and 13 rebounds.
Balanced Oldenburg roll over Heidelberg at home
EWE Baskets Oldenburg showed their offensive firepower with a balanced effort in a 105-82 home victory over MLP Academics Heidelberg to tip off the season. Heidelberg led briefly early in the second quarter but Oldenburg turned on the class and were ahead by 17 points just before halftime and never looked back the rest of the way. Oldenburg made 72 percent on two-points as well as 32 of 36 on free throws compared to to 18 of 25 from the line for Heidelberg, who committed 20 turnovers. Justin Jaworski torched his former club with 21 points and Len Schoormann also tallied 21 points to lead Oldenburg with Geno Grandall scoring 15 points and Mathis Dossou-Yovo pitching in 14 points and 7 rebounds. Ryan Mikesell had 17 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists for Heidelberg.
Vechta and Bonn have to wait until Wednesday
The other Round 1 game - RASTA Vechta hosting Telekom Baskets Bonnn - will take place on Wednesday September 25. Bonn did play this weekend as they reached the Regular Season in the Basketball Champions League through a qualifying event. With only 17 teams in the league this season, Würzburg Baskets will not play a Round 1 game.
Player of the Week
The Player of the Week for Round 1 goes to Brae Ivey of Veolia Towers Hamburg for his outstanding performance in the team’s win over ALBA BERLIN. Ivey registered an efficiency of 31 as he scored 22 points on 8 of 10 shots and 2 of 2 free throws, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals.
German Top Five of the Week
G: Len Schoormann, EWE Baskets Oldenburg
This is a big season for Schoormann and the 22-year-old had a big start to the season against MLP Academics Heidelberg with 21 points - one off his career high - 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and 1 block off the bench.
G: Jacob Patrick, MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg
Another youngster makes the list as the 20-year-old Patrick hit all five of his shots - including 3 three-pointers - for 13 pointers to go with 2 rebounds and 1 steal in 15 minutes against FC Bayern Munich.
F: Kenneth Ogbe, Veolia Towers Hamburg
Ogbe burned his former team ALBA BERLIN for 13 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal in Hamburg’s home win.
F: Oscar da Silva, FC Bayern Munich
Da Silva had a strong start to his return to Germany as he collected 19 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block against NINERS Chemnitz and then had 12 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block versus MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg.
C: Martin Breunig, SYNTAINICS MBC
Breunig could not keep Wolves from losing to ROSTOCK SEAWOLVES as he tallied 14 points, 4 rebounds and 1 steal.
Germans Abroad
Kay Bruhnke started his 2024-25 season in Lithuania in fine form with M Basket Delamonde Mazeikiai as he tallied 14 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists and 1 block against Lietkabelis. This is the 23-year-old former Bamberg and Bayreuth youngster’s second season with Mazeikiai after he averaged 9.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists last year.
