FC Bayern has taken the lead in the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) finals against Alba Berlin, remaining undefeated in the playoffs.
In what marked the farewell appearance of coach Svetislav Pesic, the Munich team triumphed over their rivals with a score of 102:94 (58:55) in front of their home crowd, which included the injured national football player Lennart Karl. Two more victories are needed for successful title defense. Bayern is aiming for their first ‘Threepeat’ in club history, having already secured the title in 2024 as seven-time champions.
«Svetti got us fired up for the game. We all know these are his last matches, so naturally, we want to win the championship too,» said Bayern guard Justus Hollatz on Dyn.
For the team coached by the 76-year-old Pesic, who is retiring after this season, World and European champion Andreas Obst was the top scorer with 33 points. For challengers Alba, Norris Agbakoko scored 21 points. Pesic is thus one step closer to a milestone; the native Serbian could become the first coach to win the German championship title in four different decades. Pesic triumphed with Berlin in 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000, and with Munich in 2014.
Bayern and Alba Berlin Duel Again on Sunday
This marks the tenth time the rivals from Munich and Berlin have faced each other in a playoff series, and the seventh time in the finals – a record, as no other duel has occurred more frequently in the Bundesliga. The underdog from the capital held their own for a long time in this ongoing rivalry, but Bayern pulled ahead by ten points at the beginning of the final quarter. Alba managed to close the gap at times but could not turn the game around.
The main round winners from Munich had quickly concluded their Round of 16 against promoted side Trier and their quarter-final against Bonn, both in three wins. Alba, on the other hand, had a more challenging path. The former serial champion advanced 3:2 against Vechta and Bamberg.
Game two will take place again on Sunday at 16:30 (CEST) / 4:30 PM (ET) on Dyn at the SAP Garden. If Bayern wins again, they will have their first match point in Berlin on Wednesday.