Alba Berlin has won one of the BBL final series against FC Bayern Basketball. The Berliners beat their favourite Munich team in the Audi Dome 106:95 after extra time. Game two of the Best-of-Five series will take place in Berlin on Thursday, June 7.
“It’s always so emotional against the Bavarians, they are simply our rivals,” said Albas Marius Grigonis at Telekom Sport: “We won because we were the better ones. The Lithuanian led his team almost single-handedly to an away win in Munich. Grigonis scored five out of seven threes and scored 30 points despite foul problems. He was mainly supported by Spencer Butterfield (6 out of 7 threes).
The Bavarians, on the other hand, did not have the luck to throw the ball from outside. However, thanks to Danilo Barthel (18 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists), the Munich team stayed within striking distance and saved themselves into extra time after a strong last quarter.
Unnecessary turnovers by Nihad Djedovic and Stefan Jovic were then used by Alba to a 9-point run that the Bavarians could no longer make up for.
The home advantage goes through the victory to Berlin. Alba have been waiting ten years for the ninth championship title in the club’s history.