Fought hard and yet stopped: Johannes Thiemann (l.) and Alba Berlin ultimately couldn’t get past Devin Booker’s FC Bayern.
Photo: imago/camera4+
The fans of Alba Berlin celebrated their basketball players for minutes despite the final defeat on Friday evening. The pride of the good performance outweighed the frustration of missing out on the championship. »I’m really proud of each and every one of them. How we fought, against all odds. I think another team would have given up earlier,” said captain Johannes Thiemann after the 82:88 home defeat against long-time rivals FC Bayern Munich.
Alba had lost the best-of-five final series of the Bundesliga 1:3 and thus missed out on the twelfth championship. »It’s painful, but it was great that we even had this chance. “It didn’t look like it six months ago,” said sports director Himar Ojeda. The fact that they even made it to the final and that they really challenged the favorites from Munich, even in the last final game, gave the Berliners consolation. “It was a great, incredible achievement by everyone,” Ojeda said.
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»We had a difficult season«
Despite all the difficulties and crises, the team grew more and more together in the playoffs. »We had a difficult season with a lot of new players and opportunities for younger players. And they delivered right up to the last second,” said the sports director, praising the team’s development. Because the Alba foundation “is based on a long-term improvement process,” he explained.
Alba took this time despite all the crises and against all market practices. »We could have changed something, brought in a new player or fired the coach. But that’s not Alba. That wouldn’t be us,” Ojeda said. And it was worth it, the team mentality was the big trump card in the playoffs. Only the many injuries ultimately prevented the possible title.
Ojeda still has some work to do after the end of the season. The contracts of world champion Johannes Thiemann and Matt Thomas are expiring. Both should be kept – especially Thiemann. »He is a very important part for us. I hope he considers staying with us and I think he will,” said Ojeda optimistically. This way the majority of the team could stay together and continue their development in the new season.dpa/nd