Julian Larry Became A Smarter Defender And Feels Like Koblenz Had A Lot Of What If’s To How The Season Could Really Have Ended

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Julian Larry (190-G, college: Texas) is a 190cm guard from Texas that completed his rookie season overseas in Germany with the EPG Baskets Koblenz averaging 9/1/271 stats. He began the season with Munster averaging 12,3ppg, 1,9rpg, 3,6aqpg and 1,4spg. He began his basketball career at Lone Star High School and then played at Indiana State (NCAA) from 2020-2024 amassing a total of 128 games. He then added an extra season with the University Of Texas. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Julian for talking to germanhoops.comThe EPG Baskets suffered a loss in Giessen on the last game day 88-69. How tough is it always to play in Giessen?

That was my first time playing in Giessen. They definitely have a nice home arena for sure but was for sure tough playing against the team because they’re experienced and they understand how to win.

Was the game lost at the FT line and on the boards?

I feel like it was an accumulation of a lot of things but I wouldn’t just pinpoint it on two things.

You finished with 8 points but shot 2/10. How content were you with your shot selection?

I was fine with the shots I took. I just missed them.

A lot of Koblenz fans made the trip to Giessen. What was your impression of the Koblenz fans this season? Do they have the special passion that fans should have?

Yes the Koblenz fans this year were very supportive and they make it like a family like atmosphere at every game. And they definitely have the passion that fan should have for not just the home games but on the road as well.

The EPG Baskets finished the season in 14th place with a record of 13-20. Do you feel it was a season of what if´s in the last 2 months?

I definitely feel like this was a what if season because even when I got here we left a lot of wins on the table.

After the incredible buzzer beater win in Crailsheim the EPG Baskets Koblenz finished the season losing 7 of 8 games. The team lost close games against Paderborn and Tuebingen. Do you feel with a few more breaks, the team could have reached the playoffs?

I definitely feel so, but the way we should look at it is things that we can do to help put us in a better position for the next time.

There were too many games during the whole season plus in the last 8 games where the defense was unacceptable. Why couldn´t the team become a better defensive team during the season?

I feel like we’ve showed we can be really good on defense at time, we just have to be more consistent. Also having our offense help our defense.

It also seemed like the mental side was an issue. Too often when the opponent made runs, you couldn´t punch back as a team. Did runs get inside the players heads to a degree that it couldn´t be fixed?

I wouldn’t say that I would just say we have to handle adversity better.

The club was a great offensive team. Talk a little about the positives of the season like that. How much fun was it playing offense for Stephan Doehrn?

It definitely was a lot of fun playing in Coach Stephan’s offense. I really like how he puts us in the positions we need to to win that specific game. He also lets us play free which is hard for a defense to guard when you have a lot of talent as well. But I really liked how he pushed me to be a better player in the offense which I feel showed !!!

What was it like playing with Calvin Wishart. Was his exceptional play at times infectious?

It definitely was super fun playing with Calvin this year. I was definitely excited when I found out I was coming to Koblenz because when I played against you guys at Munster he definitely was one of the tougher guys I had to guard. When he gets going it bring guys energy because he gets hot quick.

How valuable was Devonte McCall? What did you appreciate most about his game?

Tae was extremely valuable to the team because he brings something different to the team when it comes to his play. And I appreciate his defensive presence and the pace he plays with.

DJ Jeffries was a real work horse. How valuable was his play this season?

Dj’s play was extremely valuable this season because he was super versatile for us. We could put him anywhere on the court and he is going to succeed. He is definitely one of the most dangerous wings in the league.

The team had many talented Germans. Would a guy like Alex Moeller be a good candidate for unsung hero award?

He definitely would be a good candidate for unsung hero award because Al made a lot of good plays for us especially towards the end of the season.

Badu Buck is a guy that could get hot at anytime as well as make big plays on defense. He is also a very jovial guy. What was your fondest moment with him?

I would say my most fun this moments came with Buck in practice because as you said he can get hot, well I’ve seen him shoot the lights out in practice before.

If you had to choose one player this season as most improved who would it be?

My guy Sonne for sure. Coming in I sort of knew who he was because we had a slight encounter when I had played against you guys I got to play with him I found out that he’s somebody you want on your team.

You averaged 9/1/2 in 21 minutes averaging 3 minutes less in Munster. How content were you with your season in Koblenz?

I would say I had a good first season, learned a lot for sure. Most certainly looking forward to the future.

How tough was it playing your offensive game on a team where there were so many offensive weapons? Do you feel like you took full advantage of your opportunities?

It wasn’t tough at all playing where there were so many offensive weapons. I’m a point guard so it made it easier for me.

You were a very aggressive and potent defender on the team. How did you see your defensive game grow as a rookie in Munster and Koblenz?

I feel like throughout the season I became a smarter defender and just being more solid on defense.

On what areas will you work on most this season so you can continue to improve your game?

I will continue to tighten up my offensive game but also my leadership.

What was your personal favorite game of the season with Koblenz besides your buzzer beater in Crailsheim?

I would say my personal favorite games were when I felt like we were at our best so against Leverkusen, SSB, Munster.

You have played your whole career in Germany. What is the next step for you?

Next step is just seeing who offers and evaluating the offers that I have for next year.

How crazy have the NBA playoffs been? Are your predictions wiped out? What 2 teams will reach the NBA final and who will win it all?

The NBA playoffs have definitely been crazy but I think the finals will be Oklahoma City against the New York Knicks and I think Oklahoma City will be a repeat champion.

Thanks Larry for the chat.

My Diary As A Bit Of Old As Usual With Alba Berlin And Something New And Refreshing With Bonn/Koln Sparkled At The 2026 NBBL/JBBL Top 4

When you hear the name Alba Berlin, the first thing that probably comes to mind is winning. The club is the New York Yankees, the Boston Celtics or the Montreal Canadians of German basketball. What the organization has achieved in the last 30 years has simply been amazing in terms of being able to rack up titles. They have won a total of 23 club titles with 11 league championships, 11 cup wins and one international title in 1995 with the Korac cup. But not only on the professional level are they a rock, but also at the youth level they have been able to set a special standard of excellence always being able to bring in new talents and have success. They have won 6 NBBL (U-19) titles and 4 JBBL (U-16) titles since the NBBL/JBBL league was established in 2006. At the current NBBL/JBBL Top 4, Alba Berlin was able to find their way back to the winners circle as they were able to win their 6th NBBL title. The Top 4 saw a bit of old with Alba Berlin, but also saw something new and refreshing in 2026. In the JBBL, it wasn´t a Ulm or Alba Berlin as the winner but Team Baskets Bonn/Koln RAG. They had only once reached the top 4 and that was back in 2014. The team led by up and coming young coach Tom Becker had a great season where they nearly averaged 100 points per game and had so many scoring weapons that Oldenburg and Ulm who lost to them couldn´t control. They had an incredible team chemistry and just had that special family feeling that really brought everyone closer together. These 2 teams sparkled at the 2026 basketball weekend in Berlin, but there were also many other unforgettable things that gave everyone witnessing the games joy.

Bonn/Koln celebrate 2026 JBBL title

The 2026 NBBL/Top4 was my 8th in a row that I have covered as a writer as well as a play by play broadcaster. It was the third time in a row that it had taken place in Berlin. I took on the trek to Berlin on Thursday afternoon from Montabaur and went via Frankfurt to Berlin in about 5 hours. On the train ride, I studied the team rosters for my broadcast as well as also took a break and read my new book “Killing Willis” about Todd Bridges who came to fame in 1978 as he joined the American TV series Different Strokes which ran for 8 years and after that saw his life turn 180 degrees as he had struggles with addiction and the law, but in time was able to clean up his life and find his true identity. I´m not only focusing on basketball, but every once in a while need to turn to something new. I arrived in Berlin at my hotel at 21.30 and the first known face I saw was Jochen Lotz, the JBBL (U-16) head coach of Ulm. As I arrived he was briefing his boys about the next day. I went to my room, relaxed and had a Subway sandwich and soon called it a day. Friday would be a very long day as I would call to JBBL games at 4:30 and 7:00 pm. I got up in the morning and prepared a bit for my 2 telecasts and then went on a 2 hour walk at mid day going to Spandau that has a nice mix of nature and old churches that I enjoyed visiting. I departed for the arena at 2:45 with the JBBL Oldenburg team in their mini bus. Oldenburg has reached the Top 4 the last 3 years. I had ridden with them each season to the Berlin arena and brought them luck in 2024 as they won the title. I simply kept up the tradition. I got in the arena and as usual walked around and just took in the atmosphere. It is an older gym, but one that is very bright. Then I went up to the area where I would call the game. It is about 20 rows up. The lightening wasn´t great in terms of being able to read my notes, but that was something I had to accept and deal with. The first game was the Baskets Juniors Oldenburg against Team Baskets Bonn/Koln RAG. I called the game and saw a real classic youth basketball game. It was a game of ups and downs for both teams and was really close in crunch-time. Oldenburg was led and carried by allrounder Samuel Shchepotkin who displayed his ruthless scoring talent taking 32 shots and finishing with 29 points. However his scoring in the end still wasn´t enough as Bonn/Koln won the game on their last possession with a game winner by Khalil Idbihi who is the second eldest son of former German national player Yassin Idbihi. He barreled into the zone scoring over 3 players and sent their fans into ecstasy and finished with 22 points. Despite totally dominating on the offensive boards, it didn´t help Oldenburg reach the final. It was a massive accomplishment for the team as they had only qualified for the JBBL regular season the summer before. In the second contest, it was Ulm against Hamburg that also turned out to be an incredible game as well where in the end Ulm was able to pull out the victory 105-99. Ulm took the lead early, but later had to give it up as Hamburg rebounded and were led by allrounder Danny Egbe who would finish with 33 points. Ulm was severely hurt when Marko Volf landed his fourth foul right before the break. Ulm had to play long stretches without Volf and trailed by as much as 17 points. However other key players stepped up from Ulm with Justus Reintjes and Gabriel De Connick who scored 27 and 25 points, Volf came back and then played carefully and didn´t get a fifth foul while finishing with 28 points. Hamburg was down by 4 points in the last minute, but 3 offensive rebounds and free throws broke their neck. Hamburg also got a powerful game from German prospect Johan Meinberg with 10 points and 19 rebounds. I had the pleasure again to call games for the third straight year with German basketball legend Dirk Bauermann who led Germany with Dirk Nowitzki to the 2005 Silver at the European championships. He is a guy that always talks exactly what he thinks and as usual gave incredible expertise about the game and the young players that he closely monitors with the German basketball federation.

Jonas Mattessek and Franz Wagner taking in the NBBL game of Alba Berlin

Day 2 had the 2 NBBL (U-19 games on the slate. I did my running that day running about 10 kilometers and then went to the arena at 2:45. I had the day off commentating, but would write an in depth game report on Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners a team I have followed and reported on for more than 2 decades. Frankfurt had an incredible playoff run disposing of IBAM and Jena in 4 do or die games. They had a lot of self-confidence coming into the semi-final game against Alba Berlin, but at the same time knew it would be a tough challenge. It didn´t help them that 2026 AST MVP Jamie Edoka and other starting 5 player Julius Messer were out due to injury. Frankfurt was clearly the underdog and for 3 quarters were trying to comeback from 10 point differences, but the trek up the mountain was a steep one. Alba Berlin led 17-2 early and everyone knew in the arena that it would be a long afternoon for Frankfurt. Alba berlin had the depth and massive advantage under the basket as Frankfurt was severely undermined length wise. Alba Berlin was able to overpower Frankfurt as they always led between 10-20 points in the first 30 minutes. But in the fourth quarter, Frankfurt was content not to depart Berlin without a fight. Lukas Smazak had the game of his life exploding for 39 points and taking total command and leading a Frankfurt comeback that will be remembered for a long time. He continued dropping three´s and would finish with 8 and had 2 key steals and lay in´s on transition in the last 2 minutes to get them so close to 77-78. Frankfurt had the chance to send the game to overtime with a last shot from Smazak, but his shot bounced out and the game was over. The Alba Berlin fan area behind the basket went crazy and NBA player and ex Alba Berlin player Franz Wagner was also all smiles as he cheered on the boys. Alba Berlin had 11 guys score and were led by Anton Kemmer (198-F-2008) with 16 points and Nevio Bennefeld cleaned up the boards with a 12/11 game. Alba Berlin also controlled the boards 52-35. Universal genius Ivan Crnjac had an off day going 3/14 and finished with 8 points. A great season came to an end for Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners. In the second semi-final game pitted 2 great teams with Ulm and Vechta. Vechta had won 2 years ago where they had NBA prospect Johan Grunloh while Ulm was still searching for that first NBBL title. Ulm had most likely their best team ever while Vechta wasn´t as strong as in pervious years and went into the contest as the underdog. Vechta came into the game motivated and led 23-18 after 10 minutes, but a 7-0 run to start the second quarter by Ulm got them the momentum and from then on it was clear sailing as they had the lead and would never look back again and win 87-74. Ulm led by as much as 24 points in the third quarter, but Vechta staged a late comeback in the fourth quarter, but it wasn´t enough. Vechta shot the ball well from outside at 41%, but couldn´t come to terms with Ulm´s aggressive defense as Ulm had 14 steals. Ulm also had the better individual players and depth and were led by French prospect Meissa Faye with 23 points, while Endurnace Aiyamenkhue had a monster 12/15 game while Teo Milcic was close to a triple double with 16/9/9 game and Yanu Slingerland added 12 points and 10 rebounds.

One of the great things about the NBBL/JBBL Top 4 is that it is once a year and a time where many people involved in the German basketball scene come and visit. If it´s players, coaches, agents or office employees, you always bump into people you know. People that I saw again as they are a constant fixture at this event the last years were 1993 Euro champion Henning Harnisch as well as ex German national players Stefan Hamann, Jan Jagla and Heiko Schaffarzik. I also spotted Chris Ensminger who played numerous years with Bamberg under the guidance of Dirk Bauermann. I also spoke with ex Ulm assistant coach Pete Strobl who had been in the States the last few years and recently helped A-2 Italian team Pistoia remain in the league. He was in Berlin watching his talented son Peja play with NBBL team Vechta. I also saw ex German national league player Patrick Femmerling as well as 2024 NBBL champion head coach Hendrik Gruhn as well as Rhondorf head coach Max Becker and Ludwigsburg youth and Pro B coach Khee Ree. I also saw Alba Berlin players like Sven Schultze, Jack Kayil and Jonas Mattisseck. I also met Sebastian Buchberger a guy that has been following basketball for years and is running German basketball summary which is a basketball feed where he posts all key basketball news around Germany and other countries daily. I also hung out with 2 basketball institutions in German basketball reporting with Jan Finken who has covered basketball since more than 20 years and writes great articles for BIG magazine and was there writing game summaries for the NBBL. The other was American David Hein who like myself has been covering basketball in Germany for decades as we are the only 2 guys reporting in English for German basketball. Last but not least I also saw my guy Joe Asberry who is a basketball legend that played in Germany in the 90´s and since then has been a basketball workaholic working as a MOC, motivator, basketball coach and agent. He has been helping young boys and girls play the game better. It is always fun catching up with him about the game and life. I also saw 2025 NBBL champions Ivan Volf and Dominic Dolic. Dolic gave me fantastic quotes to the Alba Berlin-Frankfurt game and even drove me back to my hotel after the semi-final games on Saturday. He is a very nice guy that has great manners, but he definitely didn´t have to do that. I also saw Paderborn center Leonard Kroger who assisted me with fantastic quotes about the NBBL final for my article.

Teo Milicic

Day 3 Sunday had the 2 final games on the plate as well as the U-19 woman´s final. I don´t follow woman´s basketball, but took in the final and saw how Alba Berlin beat defending champion Wurzburg. I also spotted a tall girl playing for Alba Berlin that had a face that looked familiar. It didn´t surprise me when the name was Lily Schultze. She was the daughter of ex Alba Berlin legend Sven Schultze. I did play by play of the first JBBL final between Ulm and Team Bonn/Koln with Dirk Bauermann. Fans saw a very high scoring first quarter as both teams combined for 48 points and Bonn had the slim 4 point lead after 10 minutes. However in the second quarter, Ulm heightened their game a bit scoring 26 points as Bonn/Koln got away from their sound team ball and played more isolation. At the break head coach Tom Becker reminded his players why Bonn/Koln had reached the final which was through team ball. His team heeded his advice and in the second half outscored Ulm 56-37 getting back to playing their game again to take the JBBL crown. The 2 stars of the game were Idbihi (18/14/5 ) of Bonn/Koln and Volf (33 points) of Ulm and both had solid games, but it was Finn Wohlert of Bonn that stole the show from Volf as he exploded for 33 points. Bonn almost averaged 100 points per game in the regular season and showed their scoring power in the final. They let it ran three´s hitting for 18 and had 10 more than Ulm. Bonn/Koln also picked up special awards as Khalil Idbihi was voted rookie of the year and head coach Tom Becker scooped up coach of the year. The NBBL final between Alba Berlin and ratiopharm Ulm was an entertaining final that saw a close battle in the first 20 minutes as Alba Berlin led 22-20. However in the second quarter Alba Berlin was able to get away leading by 9 points at the break. Alba Berlin relied on their team basketball where they always had fresh energy coming off the bench while Ulm relied heavily on their offensive duo of Meissa Faye and Teo Milicic who combined for 51 points in the game. Ulm never gave up and heightened their game a bit in the third quarter outscoring Alba Berlin 25-21 to trail only 68-63. However Ulm couldn´t get over the hump in the fourth quarter as Alba Berlin managed the lead well, but Ulm fought until the end. Milicic made clutch shots and Ulm trailed only 85-83 with under a minute to go. Alba Berlin then slammed the door shut on Ulm as Bennefeld missed two free throws and it looked like Ulm could get possession, but the rebound turned into a loose ball that landed in the hands of Anton Kemmer who finished with the put back and the 87-83 win. The team collective that Alba Berlin showed for 40 minutes and 24 offensive rebounds was simply too much for Ulm. Anton Kemmer finished with 16 points and 8 rebounds and was finals MVP. THE NBBL season awards went to Leonard Kroger as MVP, Munich´s Caspar Vossenberg was rookie of the year, Daniel Biel defender of the year and Marius Linartas coach of the year. I was still in the arena an hour after the final ended working on my game report and waiting to depart for the train station. It was another long rlde home as I had an 1,5 hour lay over at 1:30 am in Cologne. I was finally home at 4.30 am. It was another great weekend of basketball with the best youth players in Germany battling for the titles. The weekend was another great promotion for German youth basketball.

2026 JBBL Champion And MVP Finn Wohlert Had No Special Breakfast Only Bacon And Fruit To Explode For 33 Points

Finn Wohlert is a 16 year old 190cm guard that plays for the Bonn/Koln JBBL (U-16) team. He has been with the team since the mini’s. The sniper and best 1-1 defender on the team spoke shortly to germanhoops.com after winning the 2026 JBBL final in Berlin.

Thanks Finn for talking to germanhoops.com. Congrats on winning the 2026 JBBL title. What kind of a feeling is it for you?

I didn’t realize it at the start. It was such a nice experience to play with this team. Being together for a season and then winning the title.

If someone had told you in August 2025 that you would win the 2026 JBBL title, what would you have thought?

I would of believed it. I thought we had something special. I think after winning the title, I had the right feeling about the team.

Did your game winner against Oldenburg give the team extra energy?

Yes I think it did. Winning the game on a last shot is a special feeling. He stepped up big for a young player.

Both Ulm and Bonn combined for 48 points in the first quarter. Did the high scoring surprise you?

We have the potential to have halves like that. Ulm have really good 1-1 players who are hard to stop. We should of done a better job stopping them.

Bonn played nice team basketball in the first, third and fourth quarters, but got away from it in the second quarter. Why did that happen?

I felt like we did too much 1-1. We felt like we needed to do it. But at the end of the day we knew we could only win as a team.

What did head coach Tom Becker tell the team to do for the second half?

He told us that we have nothing to lose, but they do and have all the pressure. He told us to just play our game and we will win.

What was key for getting the win in the fourth quarter?

We hit more shots and played better defense and Ulm had more problems to score. We got more steals and did a good job getting in the passing lanes.

Kahlil Idbihi had a huge game of 18/15/5. How vital is his play for team?

He is a big part of team. He helps us so much at both ends of the court. He always pushes us and gives us the sense that we can win with team basketball.

You exploded for 33 points?. Did you have a special breakfast?

No I had bacon which I eat every day and also fruit.

How special was this performance for you getting MVP?

It means a lot, but for me team always comes first. I would always rather win a title than a MVP title. It is a good feeling knowing my impact helped the team win.

Is it fair to say that you stole the show from Marko Volf?

My team stole the show, but Marko is a great player as well.

I love the game of serge Ossai. He was your unsung hero. What makes him so special as a player?

He is a very versatile player on offense and defense. He does a lot of the dirty work. He gets key rebounds, defends the other teams best player and scores when needed.

What was the biggest strength of Team Bonn/Koeln this season?

We always stuck together as a team and always put team over everything else.

How special of a coach is Tom Becker. Dirk Bauermann said he belongs to the best German talents.

He always pushed us in every practice and game. He always stressed that team is always the most important.

Will you guys celebrate on the ride home?

We don’t really party, but I think we will now.

who wins a 1-1 in practice you or Oliver Papez?

It could always go both ways. We are both talented.

Thanks Finn for the chat.

2026 JBBL Champion Oliver Papez Believes The Secret To The Success Of Team Bonn/Koln Was That Family Feeling That Continued To Grow Through The Season

Oliver Papez is a 15 year old 189cm guard that plays for JBBL (U-16) team Team Bonn/Koln. He has been with the organization since the U-10 team. The vocal leader who has the German/Czech Republic spoke to germanhoops.com shortly after winning the 2026 JBBL title in Berlin.

Congrats Oliver on winning the 2026 JBBL title. What kind of a feeling is it for you?

It is a great feeling. We have all been together since the U-12. We are like a family. Our unity grew and got stronger through the season. Winning this title was the crowning point.

If someone had told you in August 2025 that you would win the 2026 JBBL title, what would you have thought?

I would of said that we definitely have a quality to be successful, but I would never have seen us as a favorite.

Did the game winner of Idbihi against Oldenburg give the team extra energy?

I think that shot showed what can happen, when you never give up through out a game of ups and downs. We just keep playing through adversary.

Both Ulm and Bonn combined for 48 points in the first quarter. Did the high scoring surprise you?

We have such offensive power that a high scoring half can always be a reality for us. If we have 4 guys hitting three´s, then we are tough to stop.

Bonn played nice team basketball in the first, third and fourth quarters, but got away from it in the second quarter. Why did that happen?

We got in a little hole in the second quarter. Ulm displayed better ball movement. We did too much 1-1. At half-time, we realized that we were in Berlin because we were a team.

What did head coach Tom Becker tell the team to do for the second half?

He remined us that we were a family and had to leave it all on the floor no matter what.

What was key for getting the win in the fourth quarter?

We did a good job hitting our three´s and also stepped up our defense a level. Ulm didn´t cover the 3 point line and didn´t rotate well.

How would you describe Finn Wohlert in a sentence?

He is an unbelievable and incredible player.

Is it fair to say that he stole the show from Marko Volf?

I think that he did. I knew he could have a game like that. He has so much potential. He had a great day. It wasn´t luck, but due to the work he puts in. Marko Volf also is an incredible player.

I love the game of Serge Ossai. He was your unsung hero. What makes him so special as a player?

He was injured a lot this season. He has been on team since the U-12. He gives a lot of offensive support. Finn, Kahlil, him and I lead the team. We have a deep rotation.

What was the biggest strength of Team Bonn/Köln this season?

No matter who played, everyone performed. If we lost, we always got up. We always gave all we had.

How special of a coach is Tom Becker. Dirk Bauermann said he belongs ot the best German talents.

He has coached me since the U-10. He knows what each player can do. We are like family. He fit perfect to the team and we accepted his style.

Will you guys celebrate on the ride home?

We will watch the rest of the games and just enjoy the day.

Who wins a 1-1 in practice you or Finn Wohlert?

It would be a 50/50 chance.

Thanks Oliver for the chat.

2026 JBBL Winner Khalil Idbihi Never Thinks On The Court But Just Plays And Lets The Game Come To Him

Khalil Idbhi is a 14 year old 186cm guard that plays for the Team Baskets/Koln RAG. The competitive allrounder with ahigh IQ is the son of former professional player Yassin Idbihi and has been with the Bonn organization since the U-10 team. He spoke to eurobasket shortly after winning the 2026 JBBL title in Berlin.

Congrats on winning the 2026 JBBL title. What kind of a feeling is it for you?

I still can´t believe it. It is the best feeling in the world. I still haven´t realized it.

If someone had told you in August 2025 that you would win the 2026 JBBL title, what would you have thought?

I would of believed it, but not expected it.

Did your game winner against Oldenburg give the team extra energy?

I think it did. But we had energy every game even if we son by 20 points.

Both Ulm and Bonn combined for 48 points in the first quarter. Did the high scoring surprise you?

It didn´t surprise me really. We are both good offensive teams. We weren´t ready to defend yet in the first half.

Bonn played nice team basketball in the first, third and fourth quarters, but got away from it in the second quarter. Why did that happen?

We didn´t work together. Our play was static. It happens at times.

What did head coach Tom Becker tell the team to do for the second half?

He just kept motivating us and giving us the feeling to keep playing our game and that we could win.

What was key for getting the win in the fourth quarter?

We hit more shots and played good team basketball. You could see that Ulm didn´t have good body language.

How would you describe Finn Wohlert in a sentence who exploded for 33 points?

He is an unbelievable player. What he did today was crazy. He won us the game.

Is it fair to say that he stole the show from Marko Volf?

I wouldn´t say he stole the show from him. You can´t compare them. They are both great players.

I love the game of serge Ossai. He was your unsung hero. What makes him so special as a player?

He is so valuable for us. He can hit shots and is a great defender. He is simply a great player.

You had an incredible 18/14/5 game. Your game looks so calm. Did you get some of that from your dad?

I got everything from my dad. He has taught me so much. I also just let the game come to me also. I just play and don´t think.

What was the biggest strength of Team Bonn/Köln this season?

Our team chemistry.

How special of a coach is Tom Becker. Dirk Bauermann said he belongs ot the best German talents.

Coach is great. I have had him since the U-10. He is the best coach that I have ever had with my dad.

Will you guys celebrate on the ride home?

We will party later, but first watch the games.

Who wins a 1-1 in practice you or Serge Ossai?

Of course I will.

Thanks Khalil for the chat.

Final MVP Anton Kemmer’s Late Put Back And Alba Berlin’s We Got Balls Attitude Lifts Them To 87-83 NBBL Final Win Over Ratiopharm Ulm

It could have been a historic day in German basketball and ratiopharm Ulm as they had the opportunity to win the triple with both youth titles in the JBBL (U-16) and NBBL (U-19) competitions as well as the Pro B title, but they ended the day with nothing. The JBBL team beat by Bonn/Koln, the Pro B team lost to Essen and the NBBL team lost a tough 87-83 final to Alba Berlin who also won the girls U-19 title earlier in the day. Ratiopharm had to play pick up basketball all day long and in the end a few mistakes cost them the game. It also didn’t help their cause that they only shot 4/27 from outside and gave up an outrageous 24 offensive rebounds as Alba Berlin were crashing the boards like unfed buffalos. Ratiopharn might have had some crazy individual talent with Teo Milicic and Meissa Faye and of course also played together as a team, but Alba Berlin was simply at another level with their team focus and rebounding strength. ‘We played with much balls. Everybody trusted each other and no one left the other alone. It was a complete effort’, warned Anton Kemmer (198-F-2008). Ratiopharm Ulm had to play catch up ball for long lengths of the game and just couldn’t find a solution how to slow down Alba Berlin’s intensity and proper offensive execution. ‘We simply didn’t have enough today. Alba Berlin played harder and wanted it more than we did. We gave up way too many offensive rebounds and didn’t do a good job boxing out better”, stated Ulm forward Milo Murray.

Teo Milicic at the FT line

The first quarter was a very close affair as there were 4 lead changes and Alba Berlin had the slim 22-20 advantage after 10 minutes. Both clubs were displaying brute effort in the paint area as 2026 AST winner Felix Kiehlneker got free for 2 dunks while Nevio Bennefeld also made a thunderous stuff. He also showed his modern big man qualities hitting a trey as Alba Berlin led 9-7 in the first few minutes. Ratiopharm Ulm then founded daylight and added extra energy going on a 8-3 run to take the 15-12 lead. In the run, the club of head coach Florian Flabb got good support from Dutch big man and Arizona (NCAA) big man Endurance Aiyamenkhue with a lay in as he used a mis match, while French prospect Meissa Faye hit a jumper and top guard Teo Milicic made a lay in as he plays with so much intensity and has a special knack of finding the cracks in the zone. But Alba Berlin had no dents in their offensive execution and found ways to create good shots and got a lay in from energizer Finnegan Lehniger and a trey from Richard Schmitt for the 18-16 advantage. But ratiopharm also continued to be sharp getting another lay in from Milcic who split the defense and made a lay in to dead lock the game. But as usual Alba Berlin punched back again with a mini 4-0 run with lay in’s from Lehniger and 2025 JBBL champion Jona Drucke. Both teams were focusing more on the drive as the three pointer hadn’t fallen yet. ‘It was a very physical and intensive game from both teams. Teo Milicic did a good job carrying his team, but Ulm gave up too many offensive rebounds’, said Paderborn center Leonard Kroger.

Anton Kemmer from outside

In the second quarter Alba Berlin was able to make their move and get away from ratiopharm Ulm as their team play continued to carry them while ratiopharm drifted more towards isolation play as they trailed 47-38 at half-time. Alba Berlin raced out on a 8-2 run in the first minutes to extend their lead to 30-22. In the run, Alba Berlin let their massive depth take over as 2025 JBBL champion Philipp Holsken showed his sniper qualities dropping 2 three’s while Noah Isichei sparkled with his crazy quickness and intensity .Alba Berlin also got some extra possessions, because ratiopharm Ulm was unable to match their intensity. Alba Berlin upped their defensive pressure a bit more which led to ratiopharm Ulm losing their rhythm. Alba Berlin’s minister of defense Matheo Hermann was on the bench with 2 fouls and ratiopharm Ulm took advantage of it going on a 8-0 run as they let it rain three’s from Faye and Milo Murray while the latter also added free throws as suddenly Alba Berlin was leading only 31-30. But behind their incredible fans, Alba Berlin never had to feel scared or uncertain as their game didn’t undergo any lapses, but instead they punched back fiercely ripping their opponent with a 9-2 run to lead comfortablely again 40-32. In the run, Alba Berlin remained very aggressive and always were in attack mode receiving 3 lay in’s in a row from Schmitt, 2026 AST winner Fin Borczanowski and a tip in by Kemmer while Hermann hit a trey. Ratiopharm found their rhythm again and traded baskets with Alba Berlin as Faye made a lay in and defensive specialist Kenan Yeboah made a lay in as well, but they trailed 42-36. Alba Berlin did a better job containing Teo Milcic as he couldn’t get to spots as well as in the first quarter. Alba Berlin ended the first half strong getting another trey from Borczanowski and another lay in from Schmitt as they led by 9 points at the break. ‘Alba Berlin moved the ball really well and hit three’s well. Alba’s zone rattled Ulm and they took Milcic out of his game as they were very physical’, stated Leonard Kroger.

Kenan Yeboah with the drive

Despite a potent third quarter where Meissa Faye really carried ratiopharm ulm scoring 12 points, there wasn’t too much support from others as they still were unable to get over the hump as Alba Berlin still led, but ratiopharm Ulm was creeping slowly closer trailing only 68-63. Ratiopharm Ulm came out more aggressive and wanted to get Aiyamenkhue more involved and he responded right away with a lay in, but they still trailed 49-40. Bennefeld then hit a jumper for the 51-40 Alba Berlin advantage. However then came the time of Meissa Faye who demonstrated just how much of an offensive impact he can be when he wants to. He scored 8 points in a row including 6 free throws as Alba Berlin couldn’t stop the athletic beast. ‘He gave us an extra push. His scoring mentality is so crazy. He has so much potential’, warned Milo Murray. Alba Berlin continued to execute getting a pretty left handed lay in from Bennefeld and trey from Jona Drucke as Ulm trailed 56-48. Milcic continued to be a menace scoring on a beautiful floater as ratiopharm Ulm continued to crawl back trailing 56-50. However ratiopharm Ulm couldn’t string along consecutive stops as Alba Berlin always had an answer as Hermann scored twice on drives as Alba Berlin led 60-56. Both teams were trading baskets in the down stretch of the third quarter as Borczanowski made a step back jumper and Kemmer calm as usual hit a trey for the 65-55 lead. However Yanu Slingerland made a clutch three pointer as he finished with 8 points in 15 minutes as Ulm trailed only 65-61. Kiehlneker then added a thunderous dunk as suddenly ratiopharm Ulm trailed only 65-63. The Ulm fans behind their bench were as loud as ever, but then quieted down as Kemmer added another trey ending the third quarter as Ulm trailed by 5 points. ‘Ulm had a short rotation. We just kept playing fast and slowly ran them off the court’, added Anton Kemmer. ‘I thought that we played tough defense, but they also hit difficult shots’, stated Milo Murray.

Nevio Bennefeld with the lay in

In the fourth quarter Alba Berlin continued to control the game, but couldn’t shake ratiopharm Ulm as they stayed close until the buzzer. Alba Berlin got some crucial support from big man Lukas Klein who showed his scoring in bunches as he made a big dunk and offensive rebound and put back for the 72-67 lead, but ratiopharm ulm punched back getting consistent offensive power from Faye who unleashed another trey and Milicic made a lay in on transition. Milicic and Faye continued to carry their team as they scored twice staying in range of Alba Berlin trailing 76-71. However Alba Berlin never faltered, but stayed cool and managed their lead well. Their depth and offensive rebounds continued to be a big plus factor for them keeping the lead. Isichel kept the Alba Berlin up with a lay in while Kemmer made free throws and Bennefeld made one for the 80-75 advantage. Teo Milicic never lost that fire in his eyes as his competitiveness was as powerful as could be and he was always in communication with head coach Florian Flabb as he made a clutch lay in to keep Ulm so close at 80-77. But Alba Berlin just continued to play their game and got added production from Lehniger with an offensive rebound and put back and Kemmer hit free throws for the 83-77 lead. Time was running out in Ulm’s come back attempt. Alba Berlin was doing the little things better and their hustle enabled them to get the 50Y/50 balls as well. The game was going down to the wire and Teo Milcic was on fire. He was fouled behind the three point line and connected on 3 free throws to trail 83-80. The pressure was on, but Alba Berlin felt nothing whatsoever as they punched back with a lay in from Bennefeld. Isichel made an incredible play having his eye on the shot clock and then found his spot and made the perfect pass to Bennefeld for the lay in with 1 second on the shot clock and 85-80 lead with less than a minute to go. ‘That was a great play. Noah has great vision. He can make that pass every time and Nevio showed no nervousness on the finish’, stressed Anton Kemmer. But ratiopharm Ulm was not done yet as the efficient Slingerland responded with a clutch three pointer to cut the lead to 85-83. Bennefeld then missed two free throws and it looked like Ulm could get possession, but the rebound turned into a loose ball that landed in the hands of Anton Kemmer who finished with the put back. ‘Faye tried to take the ball and dribble, but some how forget to take the ball and I had the instinct to grab the ball and dunk it. It was pure emotion’, smiled Anton Kemmer. ‘It was a tough atmosphere. The fans were loud and their energy helped them. They also wanted it more than we did’, commented Milo Murray. Alba Berlin was led by Anton Kemmer with 16 points while Nevio Bennefeld added 14 points while ratiopharm Ulm was led by Teo Milicic with 26 points while Meissa Faye had 25 points. Alba Berlin shot 43% from the field and 29% from the three point line and had 50 rebounds and 12 turnovers while ratipharm Ulm shot 40% from the field and 15% from the three point line and had 45 rebounds and 12 turnovers.

Fierce Comeback From Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners Isn´t Rewarded As Alba Berlin Win 80-77 Reaching 2026 NBBL Final

It was 10 years ago in Hagen when Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners had last been at a NBBL Top 4. Now it was finally time again to battle for a title, but they had a very massive steep hill to climb against the favorite Alba Berlin who were playing in their own living room. Quite a few Skyliners still had unsettled business against this club as 3 years ago they met in the JBBL final in Frankfurt and lost to them. Who could forget the intense battle between Ivan Crnjac and Ohio State guard Matthieu Grujicic who combined for 93 points. Crnjac obviously was anxious for redemption, but knew all players would have to come together as they were missing top player Jamie Edoka and Julius Messer to injury. Frankfurt went into the contest a bit as the underdog as Alba Berlin definitely had the depth and height advantage, but after 40 minutes the difference was only 3 points as Alba Berlin reached the NBBL final 80-77. For more than 3 quarters, it looked like an one sided affair as Alba Berlin was mostly leading by 20 points, but in the fourth quarter Frankfurt gave all they had leaving their heart on the floor, but a few costly mistakes at the end cost them the game. “We played a very good first half. We were still defending well in the third quarter, but Frankfurt then went on a run. They began to play zone in the fourth quarter which gave us problems. We didn´t think that we already had the game in hand when they came back. We said at half time that we would play our game until the end. A little luck also played a role for us. But we should never have let them come back like that”, stressed Alba Berlin forward Anton Kemmer (198-F-2008). Skyliner Czech guard Lukas Smazak gave all he had exploding for 39 points hitting timely three´s after three´s ending with 8, but even he couldn´t make a miracle at the end. “We were down by 20 points in the first half and it seemed like they couldn´t miss. We were missing 2 key players and it was tough having to come back without them. We all knew that we had to perform. Still despite the loss, I´m so proud of the team and Jamie Edoka and Julius Messer who supported us so much. We showed pride and how we can play under adversity”, stressed Lukas Smazak.

Max Peters at the FT line

Alba Berlin didn´t waste anytime jumping all over Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners as they sped out to a lethal 17-2 lead. Alba Berlin moved the ball around great and let it rain three´s right away as 2026 AST winner Anton Kemmer connected twice while athletic guard Matheo Hermann supplied 7 points including a trey. Alba Berlin was defending aggressively and making everything tough for Frankfurt. Frankfurt had no good looks and had problems securing rebounds. Frankfurt then went on a mini 4-0 run as Mr heart Rephael Edward made a floater and Christoph Goerdes a lay in to trail 17-6. Frankfurt was behind the 8 ball early and continued to work for the best shots that they could get, but Alba Berlin also didn´t let up on offense. Edward snuck inside for a lay in as spacing played a key role while Maxi Peters added 4 points, but Alba Berlin still led 22-12. Alba Berlin had guys coming in and out and every player delivered like 2026 AST winner Fin Borczanowski who added 4 points while Finnegan Lehniger added a thunderous dunk on transition. Frankfurt got some support late from Lukas Smazak who hit his first trey while hustle player Chris Widmer made a lay in, but Alba Berlin had the comfortable 27-17 advantage after 10 minutes. “I was a bit surprised that Alba Berlin hit so many three´s early. Even if Frankfurt lacked structure and were forcing shots, they were fighting. It was nice to watch Alba Berlin play, because you saw no ego´s. It was superb team basketball”, stated 2025 NBBL champion Dominik Dolic.

Richard Schmitt to the hole

Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners came out focused in the second quarter and right away slapped Alba Berlin with a 8-3 run as suddenly they trailed only 30-25. The Lukas Smazak show began as he noticed early on that this would be his night and he would have to take on massive responsibility. He nailed three pointers 2 and 3 and also made a lay in. He would annoy Alba Berlin all night long with his vicious shooting and menacing drive to the hoop. “Lukas really shot well today. It reminded me a bit of my game here last year”, smiled Dominik Dolic. Frankfurt also upped their defensive presence which allowed them to sparkle in the run. However one can only limit a powerful club like Alba Berlin so long as they punched back with a nasty 13-3 run and suddenly led very comfortably again at 43-28. In the run, it was the typical Alba Berlin game as they spread the love around and just executed well. They received three´s from Noah Isichei and Kemmer while also switching it around and attacking the paint getting lay in´s from speedsters Hermann and Borczanowski. A big problem with Frankfurt´s offense was that it couldn´t integrate Ivan Crnjac the way they wanted to. Crnjac went into the break shooting 1/7 and one could see by his expression that he was frustrated. “Ivan wasn´t in the game. He wasn´t getting the normal touches and that hurt”, said Dominic Dolic. Frankfurt couldn´t get on a run as Alba Berlin continued to play their game finding everyone and getting a trey from speedy Lukas Mutter while every so often getting ample support from their bigs like Nevio Bennefeld who made an offensive rebound and put back while super energizer Richard Schmitt also added 4 points as Alba Berlin led 52-33 at half time. “Frankfurt began well as Smazak gave them a push, but Alba Berlin went on a big run. Giving up offensive rebounds and having turnovers hurt Frankfurt”, commented Dominic Dolic. Alba Berlin shot 56% from the field and 43% from outside and had 21 rebounds and 7 turnovers while Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners shot 41% from the field and 36% from outside and had 15 rebounds and 9 turnovers.

Ivan Crnjac to the hoop

Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners really stepped up their defensive intensity one more notch allowing only 28 points in the second half, but couldn´t muster much offense scoring only 14 points and still trailed 64-47 after 30 minutes. Ivan Crnjac began well nailing a trey as he had 5 points at that juncture, but all in all not much more would fall for him as he ended the day with 8 poiints. Smazak continued to shoot away, but his three pointer was falling as well anymore, but he remained aggressive making free throws and an off balance shot. But Alba Berlin also executed getting 4 points from Anton Kemmer and an offensive rebound and put back from Bennefeld as Alba Berlin led 57-39. Then came one of the big plays of the game as Fin Borczanowski came from the wing and unleashed a nasty poster that had the whole arena going wild. Even Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner jumped to his feet as he was taking in the game in the Alba Berlin fan block with ex teammate Jonas Mattisek. His dunk reminded one a bit of Franz Wagner´s thunderous dunk at the 2018 NBBL final in Quackenbruck. “That dunk was extremely nice. I have a lot of respect for Fin. He took the mis match and it was a spectacular dunk. His leaping ability is amazing”, expressed Anton Kemmer. Smazak´s three continued not to fall so he tried to help his team in other ways as his defensive pressure annoyed Alba Berlin and he also added one more trey. Alba Berlin got some baskets from Schmitt and Borczanowski as their relentless attacking led to good execution. However Frankfurt closed out the third quarter strong going on a 5-0 run as big wing Maxi Peters added 4 points and Goerdes a free throw, but Alba Berlin still was in command leading by 17 points. “We didn´t score as much as the first 2 quarters, but still played well and controlled the game. They played zone which we couldn´t adjust to. They made us play more hectic. We lost a little control”, added Anton Kemmer. “We knew that we had to continue to fight back. We defended better and continued to hit shots. They missed some easy ones, but offensive rebounds hurt us as well”, stated Lukas Smazak.

Anton Kemmer at the FT line

Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners weren´t going to go home and leave Berlin without a fight. Frankfurt stuck together as a team and exploded for 30 points in the last 10 minutes. Rephael Edward put Frankfurt on the board first with a lay to trail 64-49. Alba Berlin responded with lay in´s by Anton Kemmer who continued to attack the hole as if there was no tomorrow and scored twice. However Frankfurt never lost hope, but believed in themselves giving themselves some daylight as they went on a 7-2 run as Smazak found his trey again and Widner scored twice as they trailed only 70-56. But Alba Berlin had another response as they went on a 5-0 run as their bench came up big as Yari Monninnkhoff scored a trey and a lay in to up their lead a bit more to 75-56. But then came the last gasp of Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners in their season as they shocked the whole arena displaying an incredible 21-3 run to suddenly only trail 78-77 with 58 seconds to play. In the run it was Lukas “Mr everything” Smazak who poured in 14 points on 2 three´s and made 2 steals in a row and transition baskets. Smazak showed his stellar 2 way player skills while Maxi Peters also was clutch nailing 2 three´s. There were 58 seconds to play and Alba Berlin only led 78-77. The whole area behind the Frankfurt bench were on their feet screaming like there was no tomorrow. “Smazak hit tough shots. It was tough accepting that when you defended well the whole possession and then he makes a contested shot”, said Anton Kemmer. “We hurt them with our zone and continued to hit shots. I think it made them stressful in the run, because once they were up 25 and then only 5, it effected them”, said Lukas Smazak. But the Cinderella story of Frankfurt came up short. A foul under the Frankfurt basket led to a Borczanowski free throw and 79-77 lead. A Frankfurt turnover led to a Hermann free throw for the 80-77 advantage. Frankfurt had one more possession and tried for overtime, but Smazak´s shot popped out ending the game. “Some luck played a role at the end. We had a turnover and an open look that didn´t want to fall”, stressed Lukas Smazak. “We had a little luck at the end, but defense was key”, stated Anton Kemmer. Alba Berlin was led by Anton Kemmer with 16 points. Nevio Bennefeld added 12 points and 11 rebounds and Matheo Hermann also added 12 points while Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners were led by Lukas Smazak with 39 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 steals while Maxi Peters added 15 points. Alba Berlin shot 43% from the field and 29% from the three point line and had 52 rebounds and 21 turnovers while Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners shot 39% from the field and 35% from the three point line and had 35 rebounds and 15 turnovers.

Chris Widmer Is Burning For Revenge On Alba Berlin After Losing The JBBL Title 3 Years Ago In Frankfurt

pic credit: lore-flics

Time has really flown by for guys like current Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners NBBL players Ivan Crnjac, Maxi Peters and Rephael Edward since their magical JBBL season Another player that witnessed that emotional final was German/Dutch forward Chris Widmer (198-F-2007). In 2022-2023 they reached the JBBL Top 4 in Frankfurt and faced off against top team Alba Berlin, but lost a tough 93-85 nail bitter. “Playing at home against Alba Berlin in the JBBL final in front of the home crowd gave me such a unique feeling that I will never forget. Guarding Grujicic and getting a few key stops made me very proud to be part of that team”, remembered Chris Widmer. Nobody will forget the fierce battle between Alba Berlin guard Matthieu Grujicic and Ivan Crnjac who combined for 93 points as it reminded some of the older folk of the classic 1988 NBA playoff duel between Larry Bird and Dominique Wilkins. “I was amazed by their performances. That was one of the best JBBL finals of all-time that went to double overtime. They both played extraordinary games and both teams fought to the end”, said Chris Widmer. He like the rest of his JBBL teammates then went through 3 fruitful seasons helping the NBBL team move back to the A group, lose to ratiopharm Ulm in the playoffs last season to reaching the Top 4 this season. This time Widmer and his teammates are seeking revenge on Alba Berlin, but will have to beat them this time in their living room. “I’d definitely say that reaching the 2026 NBBL Top 4 is one of my highest accomplishments so far and it’s great to have reached it with this team. To play against the best players in Germany is a great chance to prove yourself. Also being in the Top 4 for the second time is really special”, stressed Chris Widmer.

Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners had a solid NBBL regular season reaching the playoffs and showed real grit, determination and heart as they overcame 4 do or die games against IBAM and Science City Jena to earn the ticket to Berlin. Who could ever forget game 3 against Science City Jena that was played in a loud and boisterous BCM living room of Frankfurt. Frankfurt couldn´t hit the ocean in the first half having a lousy 0/16 shooting from the parking lot. Czech Rebublic guard Luka Smazak finally stopped the shooting drought making that first trey and soon Ivan Crnjac nailed 3 in a row sparking the come back and later in crunch-time, Crnjac scored again as did Smazak that heled pave the way to the win. “We knew at some point that the shots were going to fall. Of course we had to adapt to the fact that we missed all of our 3s but as we all saw the important shots were made in crunch time”, remembered Chris Widmer. After 40 minutes, the score board read 68-64 for Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners. One couldn´t hold back Ivan Crnjac who must have had very tired arms as his fist pumping and celebrating in the seconds after must of made him extra pooped after leaving his heart on the court like all the rest of his teammates. Did Frankfurt want it a bit more than Jena at the end? “Both teams were definitely fighting and also Jena played a very tough game so props to them. We made the deciding shots and came up on top. We were not going to lose game 3 at home”, warned Chris Widmer. Frankfurt developed fighting spirit after the sensational 3 game series win over IBAM and heightened it a bit more during the exciting 3 game series win over Science City Jena. But they also proved some other things to themselves. “We overcame adversity and believed in ourselves especially when we faced difficult situations. We came back in the first round of the playoffs and stood our ground in the second. We proved ourselves to be one of the best teams in Germany”, expressed Chris Widmer.

The success of Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners was all about team as it has so many special players like German prospect Jamie Edoka who unfortunately injured himself last week in a easyCredit BBL game in Chemnitz and won´t be able to suit up. His teammates will miss him dearly. “Jamie Edoka is an excellent player, he proved himself multiple times in several competitions. But the most important thing is that he has our backs at anytime, regardless the circumstances which makes him an even better teammate. He’s able to create a lot on his own, which opens up more opportunities for the offense. Using this and our other abilities such as shooting and defensive presence, we can harmonize pretty well. I’m confident to say that he can reach anything, also the NBA”, warned Chris Widmer. One guy who will definitely play in Berlin will be the universal genius Ivan Crnjac who will surely have that JBBL final loss to Alba Berlin in the back of his mind. “Ivan is also a fantastic player. As you say his shooting ability helped us in the deciding moments but his leadership role is as important for the team. And I think it’s needless to say that he is finishes with solid numbers around the basket making him pretty versatile”, added Chris Widmer. One player that will deem even more key will be long player Maxi Peters who is a mix between Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum and Johannes Voigmann. His input will be even more valuable with Edoka out. “Maxi can play multiple positions, as he plays the 4 and also 5. He has a strong presence around the basket but also can hit 3s consistently. He often also leads in rebounding throughout the games in this season. He is very important for the team”, said Chris Widmer. The team also has another very special player named Rephael Edward who is as undersized as they get at 190cm who has to play center. He isn´t a second Jeff Gibbs, but he has qualities that is seldom seen. It is fair to say that no one has a bigger heart than him. “Raffy as we call him is without a doubt our hustle player and as you say plays with such a determination that it´s safe to say he has the biggest heart. He does a great job rebounding and playing defense. In the game against Jena he made very important defensive plays”, warned Chris Widmer.

The journey in Berlin to win 2 games against top competition with teams like Alba Berlin, ratiopharm and the Young Rasta Dragons doesn´t become any easier when 2 starters like Jamie Edoka and Julius Messer are out. Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners are clearly the underdog in Berlin. But all the Frankfurt kids are competitors and won´t be going there just to see the arena and be happy that they made it there. “I mean of course we are ready to go against any team. They always show up as a solid team and we want to do everything to defeat the home team. With the players that we have, I’m confident to say that we have a chance for the title”, stressed Chris Widmer. Often when a club makes that big upset, there is less left in the second upset game simply because that first game donned like a final. Do Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners have what it takes to make 2 upsets? “The key factor for us is to stick to our game plan and especially to stay calm when we face adversity. If we play solid defense and deliver on the offensive end it won’t be easy for the other teams to stop us”, commented Chris Widmer. With 2 key players out, other guys will have to step up and Chris Widmer will be exactly one of those players. He averaged 12 minutes more in the NBBL than the Pro B and averaged 5/2 in the NBBL. What exactly will fans see from his game in Berlin? “I myself can play on multiple positions. If the team needed me on 5, I did. If I was more needed as a wing player, I did. I always try to play with high intensity and am able to defend any type of player. For the team I simply adapt to what is needed from me and go from there. Of course I’m able to deliver on the offensive end too”, warned Chris Widmer. It isn´t only the players that will have to give all they have, but also head coach Thore Bethke will have to produce all he has from the sidelines. He always looks so calm no matter during a game or not. Can he get loud when needed? “Our head coach has a very balanced personality but of course can give us a push when we need one. And of course he guided us through the number of games reminding us that we had the upper hand regarding the series and we just had to stick to our game”, stated Chris Widmer. It will be interesting to see if Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners will have a very special weekend in Berlin. One thing is for sure, if they can pull off 2 upsets, then it could be one of the biggest weekends ever in the history of the Skyliners youth program.

Milo Murray Knows That ratiopharm Ulm Will End The Season In Berlin The Right Way Especially With Many Being Their Last Year

pic credit: ratiopharm Ulm

Milo Murray (198-G-2007) is a 18 year old 198cm forward playing with Orange Academy (Pro B), Ratiopharm Ulm (NBBL) and BBU 01 Ulm (Regionalliga. Last season he played 5 Pro B games with Orange Academy averaging 3.4ppg, 2.4rpg, played also at ratiopharm Ulm U19 team (NBBL) averaging 7.5ppg, 2.3rpg, 1.4apg, 2FGP: 56.7%, 3PT: 27.6%, FT: 72.2%, played also at BBU 01 Ulm (Regionalliga) averaging 8.4ppg, 2.3rpg, 1.1apg, 2FGP: 40.9%, 3PT: 30.6%, FT: 60.0%. He also played also ANGT with ratiopharm Ulm U18 team (ANGT) winning the title averaging 4.3ppg, 2.0rpg, 2FGP: 42.9%, 3PT: 14.3%, FT: 50.0%. He spoke to germanmhoops.com about the NBBL Top 4.

Thanks Milo for talking to germanhoops.com. You are back in Berlin for the 2026 NBBL Top 4. How good does that feel?

Thank you for the opportunity and thank you for having me. It feels great playing with a bunch of really talented guys who I get along with on and off to court and it feels great to be able to represent the club I’ve been playing for the last four years at such a prestigious event and on such a special weekend.

Last season you lost the NBBL final to Munich. What will you always remember from that tough final loss?

I remember seeing our veterans like Jordan Müller and Jonas Zilinskas being upset since it was their last opportunity to play NBBL and I want to be able to get the championship this year for my family for my friends and for the amazing organization that Ulm is.

The NBBL season has been great. The team rolled easily by top teams Urspring and FC Bayern Munich. What do you believe has been the secret to the dominating success? How vital is the combination of depth and chemistry?

Big respect to both teams. They gave us hard battles throughout the season, but it was time to show what Ulm stands for and what we do when the season is on the line. For most of the guys in the team it is their last year playing NBBL so it was only right that we end this season the right way in Berlin. I believe chemistry and the depth of our team was extremely important. I felt like a lot of the guys spend time together away from the basketball court whether it’s staying at each other’s houses whether it’s going out for food whether it’s helping each other out with schoolwork, we all get along really well in the locker room, especially it’s a great vibe and I’m really grateful to have such a great team around me at all times. Depth plays a huge role two because it’s a long season most of the guys playing 2 to 3 different leagues whether that’s Landesliga, OberLiga, Pro B and or BBL/euro cup so our depth gives everyone a chance to get on the floor and compete while staying at a high-level. Huge respect to our strength and conditioning guys Andi and Jonas for monitoring us.

What kind of a feeling was it destroying top German club FC Bayern Munich winning game 1 by 15 points and the last one by 26 points. Ulm didn´t just beat Munich, but won with ease. Plus getting revenge for the 2025 NBBL final loss.

Especially after losing to FC Bayern Munich in the finals last year it felt really good cruising by them in the series while competing to get one step closer to the top four. We played an old teammate of ours: huge credit to Niko Jerkic an amazing player who gave us trouble. from Bayern a few key players were missing and it would’ve been an even more exciting matchup to see both our stacked rosters play against each other but that’s just how the game of basketball goes!

Ulm has reached the NBBL Top 4 in Berlin. I can imagine only winning the title is the goal. Do you feel like the team can up their performance level another level?

From the beginning of the season, this was one of our main goals to reach the top four in Berlin and being there we’ve accomplished the goal we said and the only thing left we have to do now is win. I believe everyone has to put in lots of work throughout the season we’ve been coached by Florian who has set the bar very high and is responsible for a lot of our success.

How vital has Yanu Slingerland been? Is he like a type of special glue guy?

Yanu also known as “slingy” is a great guy to have on your team, because he knocks down shots, defends full court and listens to tips and advices from the older guys. He will definitely be a player to look out for during this tournament and will for sure have a great career in front of him. Definitely a guy that we can rely on in tricky moments to knock down the three-point shot.

Talk a little about the importance of Kayaan Yeboah. How vital are his defensive qualities for the success of the team?

Kayaan is one of my longest teammates here at Ulm. We spent three years in the player’s house together and have played many many games with each other. His defensive presence on the court is overwhelming for the opposing team and is also a guy who is a three and D type of player who gives spurts of energy when needed. When he has his day and is confident, it’s hard to stop his motor.

You have a big role in the NBBL team averaging 29 minutes. With your experience would you classify yourself as one of the main leaders?

I would definitely class myself as one of the leaders I have now played a few seasons in the NBBL and use this to my advantage to help the team and I could say with confidence that they believe in me to be one of the main guys getting it done on the court

The NBBL team has many scorers, but you average 12,0ppg. What other facets of your game do you bring to the table that helps the team besides scoring?

We have a whole bunch of talented basketball players who can put the ball in the basket. Meissa Faye, Endi Aiyamenkhue, Teo Milicic, Felix Kielnekher, Yanu Slingerland. Being some of the few names that can be mentioned under players who can score the ball what separates me from some of these guys is the versatility that I bring mid range scoring, stretching the floor, my transition game in the open court and my post fade aways. What I also bring to the court which is my most important aspect is my high energy communicating talking to the guys on offense and on defense and making sure everyone is on the same page whether that’s on the bench whether that’s on the floor, whether that’s in the locker room or even on the team bus. I take pride in being one of the older guys and leading us to this championship I would count myself as a locker room guy who gets along with everyone and has a good relationship with the coaching staff in Ulm.

How vital has the success of NBBL and Pro B been with head coach Florian Flabb. How special are his abilities to be able to get young men play both ends of the court?

Florian has been with us for the last two years now and it has been a pleasure being able to work with him. The effort he puts into our videos, practices and overall time as a team that’s not go unappreciated and it is not something that every coach is willing to do for his team. Can’t forget assistant coach Erik Rösch who does a lot of the dirty work and our success wouldn’t be possible if it wasn’t for the man Erik. For me personally it was very challenging with Florian in my first year since there was a lot of talented players older than me. I’m more experienced what he allowed me to do was gain experience and knowledge and apply it to my games and I think it has really paid off this year.

What kind of a relationship do you have with Coach Flabb? How has he helped your game the most the last few years?

Coach and I get along well of the court as well. He is a family man and I truly respect that about him despite the efforts he puts in with us. He still finds time to spend with his family while prioritising 2 important things his job and his family. It has been a pleasure working with him and I’m excited to be able to hopefully win a championship in Berlin this upcoming weekend.

Thanks Milo for the chat.

Thore Bethke Knows That Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners Displayed Mental Toughness Twice Already In The Playoffs And Will Have To Master It Again Against Alba Berlin

pic credit: Joshua Hoffmann

Thore Bethke is a German basketball coach with NBBL team Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners. He is currently in his 10th season with the organization. This season he helped the team reach the NBBL Top 4 in Berlin. He spoke to german hoops about the season.

Thanks Thore for talking to germanhoops.com. Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners are back at the NBBL Top 4 after a 10 year drought. What does that mean to you?

For me personally this is a huge achievement. I remember when I joined the Skyliners organization in 2016, they had just reached the NBBL top 4 in Hagen. Now we are back again 10 years later. That was my first impression of what the Skyliners youth were capable of then. It has been a long journey the last years. I know so many of the current players since the U-10, U-12 and U-14.

What were your thoughts in November 2025 after your team started losing 3 of 4 games. Did you feel like it could be a long season?

We had injury problems and were at a severe disadvantage not having Ivan Crnjac who was injured. I still felt then that we had a certain quality. We had reached the playoffs last season. We had new players and they had to get adjusted. However our focus was always the playoffs.

How vital was the absence of Ivan Crnjac? Was it obvious then that his versatile play was missing?

We were really at a disadvantage simply because he is such a versatile player. His strong leadership qualities were missing on the court. But then again on the other hand, this phase allowed other guys to get established and others had to step up. Ivan also knew that he had to be fit at the end of the season.

Was the turning point of the season the 2 game series against FC Bayern Munich? You lost the first game badly 106-74, but then won 115-88.

Ivan was back then. We were finally complete in the second game and played a lot better. We understood that we had no problems to put points up on the board, but suddenly in the playoffs it got more difficult. We realized during the Munich games how much potential was in us.

What do you believe did the team learn from that loss?
We learned that we couldn’t take possessions off. We had to play hard. We knew that if we didn’t, we would get punished. The quality was simply too good with the other teams.

The team then won twice and then played IBAM 5 times in a row. How crazy did that feel?

I think being able to play IBAM 5 times in a row was really unique. I don’t think that has ever happened before. Jamie was in the states with the Basketball Without Boarders camp and we also had to reschedule a game. It was a really interesting stretch. We also had injuries, but these games were a real defining moment for the team.

In the playoffs you lost a nail bitter to IBAM 77-74 and then had 2 do or die games. How vital was this playoff series for the growth of the team?

That series was really huge for the team growth. We had our backs to the wall. That game 2 win was so vital. That win really brought the team together. Everybody played for each other. It was fantastic. We all realized then that we could be successful.

What do you believe did your team learn after the first loss to IBAM in the playoffs?

We knew IBAM well after playing them so much. We changed up a few things on offense. We began to play post up. We were able to use our strengths and played with a lot of courage in extreme tough situations. You always want to play at 100%, but that isn’t always so easy. Every player played to the maximum.

Then came the exciting series against Jena. Frankfurt won game 3 in incredible fashion. How draining was that for you as a coach?

We had some tough injuries. I don’t think that we were ever complete in a practice. Jena played an incredible series. They switched in all games and were very disciplined on the defensive end with Biel and Grau. It was really difficult to beat them. We gave Ivan the chance for more off ball sequences. That helped him get advantages to score better.

What did the team do better in the come back?

We defended better in the second half. Everybody was more brave and we got out on transition better. We didn’t hit any three’s the first half. We told Lukas Smazak to keep shooting.

Both teams fought like crazy, but did your team still want it more?

Jena had an incredible season. They moved up from the B group and upset Ludwigsburg. They had experienced many positive things this season. They played at their maximum. They weren’t afraid and played their game. I think that both wanted it equally, but our experience and individual qualities made the difference.

How has the team grown this season?

We became more versatile and consistent on the defensive end. We also did a better job sticking to details and executing.

How special is Rephael Edward of a player? He had 7 offensive rebounds in game 3 against Jena. Have you ever seen a player with a bigger heart?

I don’t think so. I don’t know any other player like him. He is so unique. There is only one profile like him. Players underestimate his IQ. He does such a great job defending the pick and roll, setting blocks and boxing out. I remember we were playing in Heidelberg and were up 20 points. He dived for a loose ball and lost a tooth. He did that despite leading by so much. He is always so focused. All profit from his game.

How have you seen top players Jamie Edoka and Ivan Crnjac grow this season?

Ivan developed a post up game this season. Guys can’t switch on him anymore. He also has become an even better team player. He never has an ego. He always has team first on his mind. Jamie has become even cleverer in his game. He can do it all. His decision making has also improved. He finds solutions even better now and can influence the game better.

Maxi Peters is a bit in the shadow of Edoka and Crnjac. How vital is his play for success?

Maxi plays the 4-5, but is more a position 4 player. He also has undergone a great development this season. He can defend more positions now. He switches better, and rebounds better. On offense he is able to showcase many offensive qualities. He also doesn’t shy away from defending bigger players.

You open up in the NBBL Top 4 against Alba Berlin. The team will be without Jamie Edoka who injured himself against BBL team Chemnitz. How hard is this to digest?

It is a shame that Jamie can’t play. This would have been another highlight for him. Not having him is a big loss for us. He will be able to digest it. It will be very cool to paly Alba Berlin in Berlin. We have experience this season dealing with adversary. We have been in this type of situation before. We aren’t going to Berlin just to visit the arena.

Could this loss hurt the team mentally? How will you deal with it as coach?

It will be tough mentally. But we have showed mental toughness before in the playoffs and will have to show it again. I feel like we have a deep roster. Others will have to step up. Alba might feel some pressure having to win. Some guys from them may hold up. We go in with no pressure. Perhaps we will get quicker to 100% than them.

What will be key to reaching the final?

Alba Berlin always have a high standard. We had a test game against them around Easter. They are a big team, that play with a high intensity, have depth and play team basketball. Rebounding will be key. We will have to find a way to get easy baskets. We also have to play fast, because it will be tougher to get to the rim in the set play.

Thanks Thore for the chat.