The dream of the first living title: The MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg for the first time in their club history in the final of the Basketball Bundesliga. The surprise team of coach John Patrick sat on Tuesday at the master tournament of the Bundesliga in Munich, in the semi-final second leg 94:85 (42:46) against the previously unbeaten ratiopharm Ulm.
In the first duel in the spectator empty the Audi Dome, the Swabian teams had 71 offset:71 separated, it was the first draw in a Play-off Match in the League for 45 years. In the finals of the succession of the deposed Champions FC Bayern on Friday and Sunday Munich-conquerors of Ludwigsburg, yet only as an outsider. In the second semi-final Alba Berlin against the EWE Baskets Oldenburg before the return game a 29-point cushion and a big title favorite. “I’m very proud of,” said Patrick, Magenta sport. “We have a great energy, that’s why we have a Chance.”
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The giants were at times already with 13 points, fought back with their strong defence and were able to cope with the loss of Center Jonas Wohlfarth-Bottermann. The best thrower of the winner of the once again outstanding American professional Marcos Knight with 26 points for Ulm also has 19 points from Archie Goodwin were not sufficient for the first final since 2016. “We had a Ludwig Burger team at a point where we felt good. Then we took the foot off the Gas,“ said the German construction and former national player Per Guenther. “Ludwigsburg, Germany deserved to win.”
After nearly four minutes there was the first big scare for Ludwigsburg. Building player Knight twisted, hobbled in and was treated on the right ankle. The leader and energy carriers of the outsider through a bite, however, and showed, in spite of its only 1.88 meters body size is again a spirited performance.
Ulm at the beginning is better
After slight start-up difficulties Ulm took control. With a 9:0 run by the Team of Slovenian coach Jaka Lakovic moved to 16:10. As in the first duel veteran ordered By Günther from the Bank coming to the game, the Austrian Thomas Klepeisz came alone in the first section on ten points, struggled at the end, however, with the team’s performance. “Today we were missing a bit of killer instinct. Ludwigsburg has brought at the right time to score the Runs on the floor, and we couldn’t answer. In the end it was the small things that break us the Neck.“
Up to 33:20 Ulm pulled away. The Ludwig Burger had, once again, throws a strong problems with your Distance, came but again. “I didn’t like it at all, how we play. We do not rebounden well and don’t move the Ball,“ criticized Knight, consequently, the appearance of his Ludwig Burger in the first 20 minutes.
