ALBA Berlin loses first BBL game

After dominating German Basketball through the turn of the century, ALBA Berlin has had to stand back as Brose Baskets and Bayern Munich have picked up the spoils in the BBL over recent seasons. This campaign ALBA has looked to be on a mission to regain the crown it last boasted in 2008, and until tonight the team had been unbeaten.

However, ALBA Berlin suffered its first loss of the domestic season as old foes Brose Baskets Bamberg downed the club 98-69 at home. It was a crushing defeat that could point to the Berlin club simply running out of steam after a busy start to the season where the players have evidently given their all. After a 14 game unbeaten streak the capital based giant still controls the standings, top of the pile with games to spare (14-1).

However, the thumping loss in Bamberg will cause concern for head coach Sasa Obradovic and he will want his players to respond like potential champions when they meet MBC on New Year’s Eve. The spectre of current BBL Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich is never too far away as the club sits in second place and closed the gap (12-3) with a 91-75 win over Artland Dragons. Brose Baskets cannot be discounted after this display either, the Bamberg outfit is also holding a 12-3 record in the chasing pack behind ALBA Berlin.

In the other game that opened Round 15 of the BBL, TBB Trier took out EWE Baskets 71-65 at home.