Only a few years ago, the Fraport Skyliners and FC Bayern Munich belonged to the best U-19 youth programs in Germany, but at the moment are going through some growing pains. Fc Bayern Munich haven’t won the U-19 title since 2019 and Frankfurt last won the JBBL title in 2016. They are still respected youth programs, but who would have thought that both teams would only be 0-5 combined so far this season. Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners are still looking for an identity at both ends as they are averaging only 61 points per game on offense and allowing 75 points per game. FC Bayern Munich on the other hand started 0-2, but their record is deceiving because their loses were nail-bitters with 74-72 against Jena and 76-70 against their rival IBAM. One thing was clear in that one team would leave the floor with their first win of the season. It took a lot of time before FC Bayern Munich finally showed their true colors as they allowed for Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners to stick around until the end of the third quarter, but then took full control and never looked back until the final buzzer winning comfortably 86-60. After the match one could sense that Munich Brazilian head coach Paulo Prestes who had been drafted in the NBA in 2010 by the Minnesota Timberwolves wasn’t particularly happy with the overall effort, but took the win at the end as a positive sign and new beginning for the season. ‘We started the season with 2 loses something we didn’t expect. We didn’t find our identity until the third quarter. Frankfurt played aggressive and with confidence and we missed a lot of open shots. When our three’s weren’t going in, we weren’t aggressive enough going to the basket’, stated Paulo Prestes. Frankfurt played a courageous and hard fought game, but FC Bayern Munich was simply to much to contend with for 40 minutes. 20 year old Drago Crnjac of the Fraport Skyliners Juniors took in the game and was impressed by the performance of Frankfurt, but not overall surprised by the Munich win. ‘Frankfurt played very well for 27 minutes. Turnovers was a big problem. There was a huge difference in skill level. Munich had a starting 5 of Pro B players. Frankfurt stayed with them for a long time, but Munich simply was more consistent and made more shots’, stated Drago Crnjac.

Joshua Zentgraf at the FT line

FC Bayern Munich began like they were in a frenzy leading 10-2 after only 1,57 into the game. FC Bayern Munich had a simple recipe inserting the nasty full court press forcing turnover after turnover and then getting easy baskets as well as attacking the rim in their set plays. FC Bayern Munich got buckets from German Christian Skladanowski with 2 dunks, 2 lay in’s from the Duracell energizer Amar Licina who was practically unstoppable on the drive and a dunk from German Luis Wulff (199-PG-2004, agency: BeoBasket) who has been with the club since the U-10 and has played 1 easyCredit BBL game. Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners had extreme difficulties with the Munich press as they only had 2 guys help when it should have been 3. Big German wunder boy Ivan Kharchenkov didn’t get touches, but sparkled with his facilitation. But sometimes when things work so well, you lose focus and get careless and that is exactly what occurred with FC Bayern Munich as Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners fought back going on a 9-2 run to trail Munich only 12-11. In the run Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners did a super job upping their intensity and aggressiveness at both ends. They attacked the rim with force as Finley Pruever and Joscha Zentgraf drew fouls and scored while other Germans Fabrice Heberer nailed a trey and Barnabas Bode scored in the lane. FC Bayern Munich then found some rhythm again and could keep the lead. FC Bayern Munich received valuable support from the bench getting buckets from Desmond Yiamu and German Luka Pesic to lead 18-13. Heberer then hit another trey, but Munich kept up the pressure getting added support from their bench Nikola Tomic supplied a three pointer, Dominik Dolic scored on a lay in and the quick and shifty Luka Pesic hit a jumper for the 27-20 Munich lead after 10 minutes. ‘Frankfurt had problems with the Munich press, but came back into the game with better rebounding. They traded in their lack of speed with physicality. They forced Munich to tough shots’, explained Drago Crnjac.

Christian Skladonowski at the FT line

FC Bayern Munich kept their lead in the second quarter, but couldn’t keep the consistency as Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners came back and trailed only by 2 points at half-time. Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners began very well as hustler and banger Joscha Zentgraf gave Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners extreme energy to begin with back to back baskets to cut FC Bayern Munich’s lead to 30-24. Then came the weakest phase of both clubs as there were 9 possessions in a row where it was raining bricks and no points. After a Skladowski basket, Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners countered with a superb 1-1 play by Hector Izquierdo and a clutch three by Fynn Noll to trail FC Bayern Munich 33-29. Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners was defending with passion and were fortunate that Ivan Kharchenkov had a cold spell. Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners never gave up and remained with the guests as they got key baskets from German Alexander Lagemann who remained aggressive and was a force inside, got free throws from Izquierdo and a key lay in by Heberer as Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners trailed only 37-35. FC Bayern Munich took a time out and head coach Paulo Prestes got loud with the words ‘aren’t you guys ashamed’? The guests were missing shots that U-10 players would make while Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners continued to attack inside and were getting rewarded with their continued physicality. Lagemann then tied the game with a lay in, but Licina must of thought that two can play that game and also made a lay in giving FC Bayern Munich the 39-37 lead at the break. ‘Frankfurt did a good job pursuing the mismatches with guys like Lagemann, Izquierdo and Zentgraf. Frankfurt switched everything and Munich couldn’t get the ball to the basket quick enough to get the advantage’, stated Drago Crnjac. FC Bayern Munich was shooting a pathetic 34% from the field and 15% from outside and had 23 rebounds and 7 turnovers while Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners shot 40% from the field and 33% from outside and had 23 rebounds and 16 turnovers.

Alexander Lagemann driving to the rim

In the third quarter Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners continued to stay with FC Bayern Munich, but the cut in the game occurred in the last few minutes as the guests would never look back again. Izquierdo began with a lay in to tie the game at 39-39, but FC Bayern Munich struck back with a 7-0 run to lead 45-39. FC Bayern Munich used their aggressive press that worked well as Kharchenkov scored on a lay up and then Licina made 2 steals that led to 2 fast break buckets from Luis Wulff. Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners had some mental lapses and the Munich press was perfect for their game. But Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners continued to play hard and went on a 10-6 run to trail Munich only 51-49. Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners really executed well playing fine inside out basketball as Znetgraf was aggressive making free throws and a lay in while Sergio Grothe and Bode connected on three’s. Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners didn’t only have problems containing the quickness of Amar Licina but also the elegance of Luis Wulff who made a trey and runner to give FC Bayern Munich the 56-49 lead. Frankfurt remained aggressive attacking the hole as Lagemann scored cutting the guests lead to 56-51. But then came the turning point of the game as FC Bayern Munich finally found their identity going on a 10-1 run to lead 66-52 after 30 minutes. In the run FC Bayern Munich got good support from their bench once again as Dolic and Pesic stepped up. Dolic made a turn around shot and lay in while Pesic made a pretty floater and lay in on transition. ‘Dolic and Pesic were the game changers. They played great. They did what they were asked of’, stressed Paulo Prestes. ‘Pesic and Dolic gave Munich new energy and they took command. That just showed how deep Munich was’, stated Drago Crnjac.

Ivan Khrachenkov penetrating to the hoop

FC Bayern Munich took the momentum of the end of the third quarter into the fourth quarter and finished the game strong winning the fourth quarter 20-8. Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners had to accept a lethal 10-3 run by FC Bayern Munich right off the bat as their bench continued to be excellent. Pesic continued to be ruthless scoring 7 points with a trey, finger tip role and off balance lay in. Skladanowski also added a dunk while Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners got a three pointer from Kenny Wefing. After Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners got a turnaround shot from bench player Victor Malinowsky, FC Bayern Munich went on their next run of 10-3 to close out the contest. FC Bayern Munich got added support from Lenny Agigbata with a lay in and big dunk while Desmond Yiamu made a lay in on transition and Nikola Tomic made a lay in. Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners got the last basket of the game as Colin Tolke scored off the bench. ‘Munich didn’t play 1-1, but played well as a team. Frankfurt were denied on the drives as the Munich help was there and when Frankfurt did find their shooters, they couldn’t execute’, commented Drago Crnjac. FC Bayern Munich was led by Luca Pesic with 16 points. Luis Wulff scored 13 points and Amar Licina and Christian Skladowski scored 10 points apiece while Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners were led by Joscha Zentgraf with 10 points. FC Bayern Munich shot 44% from the field and 15% from outside and had 37 rebounds and 12 turnovers while Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners shot 35% from the field and 32% from outside and had 46 rebounds and 39 turnovers.

Tags : LUIS WULFF, FC BAYERN MUENCHEN 2ND TEAM, NBBL BASKETBALL