Rostock (dpa / mv) – Just three days after the 65:78 defeat against FC Bayern Munich, the Rostock Seawolves are dealing with the next heavyweight in the basketball Bundesliga. On Friday (7:00 p.m.) the newcomer is challenged by the leaders Telekom Baskets Bonn. The hosts have lost just one of their 13 games this season and celebrated their sixth win in a row in Ulm during the week.

Despite the outsider role for his team, head coach Christian Held was confident and referred above all to the second half against Munich last Tuesday. Held described the fact that his team had only conceded 25 points after the break as excellent and emphasized: “It’s definitely a step in the right direction and we can build on that.”

Nevertheless, the 34-year-old spoke of a difficult game that the Seawolves expected. “But this way we get feedback about our development as a team and how we have to perform in games like this in a very short time.”

Held said about Bonn that, alongside FC Bayern Munich, it was one of the best defensive teams in the BBL. “With T.J. Shorts, the Bonners have an MVP candidate in their ranks who has a huge share in the success,” he added. “Bonn has two players in every position. We have to perform at the highest level, both offensively and defensively, in order to be successful.”