It was shortly before the end of another loss this time against the Telekom Baskets Bonn on the road and Skyliner legend Quantez Robertson landed on the foot of Parker Jackson-Cartwright and one could imagine the many groans of fans who were thinking what would happen now if their only true heart and soul of the team would be out for an extended amount of time. The 2016 Fiba Europe Cup winner just didn’t have much fortune as they were stuck with an incredibly long beginning schedule that pitted them up against many of the top BBL teams. It didn’t help the Fraport Skyliners cause that with a 0-4 record they next had to battle overwhelming favorite FC Bayern Munich without Quantez Robertson. The only good news was that Frankfurt was in their own living room and were facing a club that was no where near where they wanted to be and were coming off an embarrassing 71-64 win over Giessen that had them near a loss as they took them into overtime. Sometimes when a club is down and out, they are most dangerous, but against against FC Bayern Munich, Frankfurt was able to keep up for about 15 minutes, but a massive 18-0 run decided the game in the second quarter for FC Bayern Munich 79-50. Germany’s most famous club didn’t play their best game, but they didn’t have to, because the Fraport Skyliners were even worse. At times FC Bayern Munich looked like they were just going through the motions and just playing, but not seriously competing. Munich head coach Andrea Trinchieri surely wasn’t totally happy after the win, but he remained diplomatic to the press. ‘I thought that we were solid and serious today. Of course there is a difference when you have 15 players or only 10 players. Jason George helped us a lot especially with his great defense which rewarded us with open shots. Nihad Djedovic was amazing playing three positions. He showed exactly how you should play’, explained Munich head coach Andrea Trinchieri. Frankfurt had little chance to win this game and couldn’t prepare the way they wanted and knew how having only 8 players in practice during the week. ‘We fought hard despite playing only with 8 players. I thought that we worked well and took a step in the right direction. I thought that we were disciplined, but didn’t play good offense against their switches. We just aren’t ready to play at that level yet.

The Fraport Skyliners rushed out on a rapid start leading 5-2 as Len Schoorman showed his aggressiveness early on scoring on a drive and kept it to the end finishing with 9 points and Brancou Badio nailed a trey. Badio soon connected on another trey but the guests found a groove quickly also and hit a couple of three’s from Djedovic and ex NBA player Darrun Hilliard and also mixed it up getting easy baskets inside from ex Braunschweig forward Gavin Schilling and Serbian Zan Mark Sisko to lead 17-11. But FC Bayern Munich still were finding their identity on defense and allowed some easy baskets. It was the farm club duo of Alex Richardson and Felix Hecker that gave crucial support with baskets and Schoormann also scored again to dead lock the contest at 18-18. But basketball is a game of runs and the Fraport Skyliners lost a little intensity in the last few minutes allowing the Bavarian squad to close out the first quarter with a 7-0 run. American Deshaun Thomas who reached the NCAA Final 4 with Ohio State and was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs scored 5 points and young German Jason George scored on the fast break for the 25-18 advantage. Munich shot over 60% from the field and outside while Frankfurt was at over 40%. Munich had the rebound and turnover advantage.

The Fraport Skyliners got back into the game trailing FC Bayern Munich by only one point, but then as if a tidal wave mysteriously appeared, the guests totally blew away Frankfurt with a brutal 18-0 run to decide the game before the break. Frankfurt stormed out into the second quarter with a forceful 9-2 run to trail Munich only 27-26. FC Bayern Munich was in a phase again where they were playing totally under their expectations and were just under performing which could have really hurt them against a Ulm or Oldenburg, but against Frankfurt could get away with it. The guests had no fluidity on offense and had problems with execution with Frankfurt’s aggressive defense. Frankfurt continued to get vital production from Senegal guard Badio who steered 6 points with free throws and a lay in while Schoorman continued to be active attacked the rim for a lay in. After Vladimir Lucic hit three free throws, it was ex Alba Berlin forward Lorenz Brenneke that gave the club some big energy with a coast to coast run and two handed dunk to trail Munich only 32-28. But a game can change so quickly when a few shots are made and the self-confidence of the team changes 180 degrees as Frankfurt witnessed. FC Bayern Munich shocked Frankfurt with a massive 18-0 run to extend their lead to 50-28. In the run FC Bayern Munich got key support from German national player Andreas Obst who had 8 points including two three’s. The ex Ulm player is without a doubt the best German shooter on earth at the moment. Gavin Schilling also steered 6 points in the run including two back to back dunks on transition where one was really wondering if Frankfurt would bring out the white flag of surrender. Len Schoormann stopped the Munich run with a lay in as the Fraport Skyliners trailed 50-30 at half-time. ‘We had too many turnovers in the run. We had problems rebounding the ball and weren’t taking open shots’, commented Quantez Robertson. FC Bayern Munich continued to have great shooting percentages with 61% from the field and 70% from outside even if it didn’t feel like it while Frankfurt had problems on the boards and had 11 turnovers.

In the third quarter, both teams couldn’t muster much in the first five minutes, but after FC Bayern Munich was able to make their first field goal, things began to click after that allowing them to achieve their highest lead of 29 points in the game. In the first minutes, one had to wonder if these were two easyCredit BBL teams as both had a brick festival as no team could buy a bucket. Both teams couldn’t execute on their first five possessions. FC Bayern Munich did get free throws from Djedovic, Lucic and Shilling, but even then they weren’t perfect going 3/6. Frankfurt finally got their first field goal from Badio while FC Bayern Munich had to wait a little bit longer. Frankfurt had serious problems on offense as they truly had only one real option as Badio took on the role and did his absolute best. He finished with 20 points and continues to show that he can play at the BBL level. He also had to help out at the point guard position which is a weak spot at the moment for the club. ‘I think Brancou made a step today. The BBL is still new for him, but he has a good mentality. He played a little point guard with the Senegal national team and now with us’, stated Fraport Skyliner head coach Diego Ocampo. FC Bayern Munich finally got on the score board at the 3,44 minute mark getting a turn around jumper from Thomas as Frankfurt trailed 55-34. The Frankfurt offense woes continued as they mustered only 6 points in the whole quarter and the guests closed out the third quarter with a 10-2 run to lead 65-36. Obst continued to be an inside outside wrecking crew making a trey and also driving for two points. Ex NBA player Othello Hunter also used his physicality for a bucket inside and Hilliard hit a three pointer. Despite the brick party at the start, FC Bayern Munich was still shooting very well at 55% from the field and 69% from outside while The Frankfurt shooting percentages dipped to 38% from the field and 21% from the parking lot. Munich also continued to control the boards and turnovers easily.

In the fourth quarter nothing changed as the Fraport Skyliners couldn’t make a big dent into the overwhelming Munich lead, but could leave the game with a somewhat positive feeling as they did win the quarter 14-13. Frankfurt began with a trey from Rasheed Moore who didn’t have a good shooting day netting only 4 points and then got two baskets from rookie Matt Haarms who got into foul trouble early. Munich got baskets from Sisko with a runner and Jason George dropped a trey who felt very comfortable in the left corner as Frankfurt trailed 73-45. With 2,13 minutes to play there was an amusing scene on the court as Gavin Schilling went down under the court and got up limping back to the bench. Before he could even get there, head coach Andrea Trinchieri yelled at him to remain on the court. Some coaches just seem to know their players best even if they can’t feel the pain. ‘You could see that his coach knew exactly what he thought of him. He gave him a strong warning to remain on the court’, stressed Quantez Robertson. At the end young German Marvin Ongusipe got some garbage minutes and scored and Jason George hit one more time from the left corner and Badio ended the game with a basket. Even if FC Bayern Munich won with ease, it is still apparent that they aren’t anywhere near their full potential. ‘We have an idea of what we want to be and have shown flashes. Each day is a good day to get better’, warned Andrea Trinchieri. Despite the blow out loss, Diego Ocampo did see some positive things on the court. ‘I thought our pick and roll defense and transition was good. We also played well with the ball and passed better in the second half’, said Diego Ocampo. FC Bayern Munich was led by Andreas Obst and Darrun Hilliard (198-SG-93, college: Villanova, agency: BeoBasket) with 13 points a piece while Gavin Schilling added 11 points and 10 rebounds while the Fraport Skyliners were led by Brancou Badio with 20 points. FC Bayern Munich shot 49% from the field and 58% from outside and had 36 rebounds and 15 turnovers while the Fraport Skyliners shot 34% from the field and 21% from outside and had 29 rebounds and 20 turnovers.