FC Bayern decides series in Trier early – Bamberg advances with sweep, Würzburg forces game five

FC Bayern Basketball used their first match point in the quarterfinals of the easyCredit BBL and ended the series against the VET-CONCEPT Gladiators Trier without detour. With the 99:62 in game three, Munich is in the semifinals – and set an early sign in Trier of how clearly the roles were distributed in this encounter. The Bamberg Baskets also made their entry into the next round perfect. In the series between Würzburg and Bonn, however, the decision will only be made in a fifth game.

Bayern pulls the plug on Trier before halftime

At the beginning, Trier still kept the game open: after the first quarter, Bayern was narrowly ahead 23:20. But already in the second period, the game shifted significantly. Munich increased their defensive presence, got into their tempo faster, and repeatedly punished Trier in sequences after turnovers or long rebounds.

By halftime, the game was practically decided – 57:33 for the guests. Oscar da Silva had already put up twelve points by then and gave Bayern's offense stability, while Trier increasingly lost their grip and fell apart in their own structure.

Clear control over rebounds and rhythm

The superiority of the Munich team was especially evident where playoff games often tip: in second chances and in the control of the physical zones. The rebound ratio of 30:9 underlined how rarely Trier was even able to turn stops into possession – and how consistently Bayern, on the other hand, was able to force additional attacks.

After the third quarter it was 81:46, so the second half was also "managed" early in sporting terms: Bayern remained disciplined, hardly allowed any runs, and kept the error rate low. That Munich narrowly missed the 100-point mark at the end did not change the character of the evening: the 99:62 away win was a largely controlled demonstration. Da Silva finished the game as Munich's top scorer with 20 points, and in the SWT Arena, 5,400 spectators saw how Trier, after the early break before halftime, could not find their way back into the game.

In the semifinals, Bayern will now face – depending on the further course of the other series – either RASTA Vechta or ALBA Berlin.

Bamberg also through, Würzburg extends the series

Soon after came the second sweep of this quarterfinal weekend: the Bamberg Baskets won at ratiopharm Ulm with 96:87 (27:28, 20:19, 32:19, 17:21) and thus also decided the series 3:0. Until halftime, the game was open at 47:47, but the third quarter tipped the game: Bamberg pulled away with 32:19 and then brought the lead home in a controlled manner.

Ibi Watson shaped Bamberg's success with 28 points and hit six of his eight three-point attempts – a rate that denied Ulm the chance to come back with runs at the crucial moment. Demarcus Demonia added 17 points and six assists. For Ulm, Mark Smith (21 points, five rebounds, three assists) and Christian Sengfelder (18 points, eleven rebounds) stood out, but in the phase when Bamberg broke open the game, Ulm too rarely found the right defensive answer.

The duel between Würzburg and Bonn remains open: the Würzburg Baskets won game four 82:70 (20:12, 16:19, 25:17, 12:22) and thus forced a decisive fifth game. Davion Mintz scored 14 points and hit four of his five threes, Marcus Carr had 13 points, four rebounds, and seven assists. The deciding game will take place on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. in Bonn.

This makes Munich the first clear winner of this quarterfinal section: a convincing finish in Trier, a quick entry into the semifinals – and the message that Bayern was able to take control of this series before halftime. Behind Munich, however, the playoff picture remains in motion.