It was Sunday morning in Frankfurt and the Alba Berlin NBBL and JBBL teams were getting ready to embark on playing the 2023 youth finals and it was the calm before the storm. It was a beautiful sunny morning and who would of thought that hours later they would have won the double, but nobody could have predicted that these 2 games would probably go down in German youth history as the 2 greatest finals back to back ever on the same day. The Alba Berlin JBBL (U-16) began with a thrilling win over the underdog Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners that took them to double OT as 2 standout Germans Matthieu Grujicic and Ivan Crnjac combined for an incredible 93 points as Gruijcic scored a mindboggling 52 points and had some carefully thinking the next Doncic. But the Alba Berlin NBBL team took it to another level having a fierce battle against the Young Rasta Dragons who were looking for revenge after losing last years final to them. Last year the Vechta squad was pooped and lost badly after upsetting FC Bayren Munich, but this time took the mighty Berlin team to the wire and lost on a heart breaking buzzer beater with an in your face buzzer beater by Nils Machowski (191-PG-2004) 78-75. How much pain can a club take 2 years in a row? Last season Kaya Bayram celebrated the Alba Berlin win with his team and this season played against his ex team with Vechta and had his hand in Machowski’s face and had to endure his friend making the game winning shot. ‘We had a great season. We wanted to top the Vechta season with a win after the other teams had reached the Pro A and Pro B final. You can lose a game, but losing like this on a buzzer beater is so tough. I know Nils since he is 9 years old. What does he do, he hits the game winner in my face. I’m so proud of my team. The team took me in and gave me trust. It is like a family here. This loss hurts so much’, stressed Kaya Bayram. After getting a shower at the post game interview for sporttotal.tv, the hero Machowski was able to reflect about the historic final. ‘This whole game was back and forth. No team could break free. I though after Rikus Schulte hit the three in the fourth quarter, the game was decided, but no. They always fought back. It was finally a nice final’, smiled Alba Berlin guard Nils Machowski. ‘This was the best final ever. It was such a tight game and a real fight until the end’, added Alba Berlin forward Ellias Rapieque.

Jamal Entezami at the FT line

Both teams began the first quarter finding a smooth offensive rhythm as defense took a back seat. Young Rasta Dragon Killian Brockhof got on fire rapidly getting 7 points showing his inside-out abilities with a turn-around shot, lay in and trey while Alba Berlin got potent support from NBBL MVP Rikus Schulte with 5 points. Alba Berlin had no problems challenging the bigs Grunloh and Brockhof as 2022 NBBL champ Linus Ruff dominated in the paint scoring 3 baskets. But the reigning champion couldn’t get away as the Young Rasta Dragons heart and soul and captain Noah Jannen took over scoring 8 vital points including 2 three’s to give the Young Rasta Dragons the 19-18 advantage. The Young Rasta Dragons had problems takin g care of the ball, but Alba Berlin couldn’t take advantage of it in the scoring department. German Paul Bahn and Brockhof traded baskets and after 10 minutes Alba Berlin had the slim 22-21 advantage. ‘Both teams came out scoring well. No team was able to show their defensive qualities. It took some time for both teams to get rid of their rust’, stated Elias Rapieque. Alba Berlin shot 47% from the field and 40% from outside and had 7 rebounds and 5 turnovers while the Young Rasta Dragons shot 50% from the field and 38% from outside and had 9 rebounds and 8 turnovers.

Jeygor Cymbal at the FT line

In the second quarter, both teams had runs, but at the break Alba Berlin led only by 1 point. Noah Jannen continued to be an offensive menace hitting a three pointer for the 24-22. Jannen had suffered a tough final loss last year and was more than focused this season and understood he had to take on more responsibility as Johan Grunloh was being kept in check by the Alba Berlin big men. But Alba Berlin stayed with their opponent getting an off balance shot by NBBL rookie of the year Jack Kayil and a three by Machowski for the Alba Berlin 28-27 advantage. The Machowski trey sparked Alba Berlin to score 7 more unanswered points and extend their lead to 35-27. In the run Alba Berlin received vital support from Ruff with a lay in while Rikus Schulte continued to score at ease making a tip in and three pointer. The Young Rasta Dragons lost some intensity on defense and on offense rushed their shots too much losing their offensive rhythm. Grunloh was off in that time and had little support inside as Alba Berlin got easier looks. But the Young Rasta Dragons came out of a time out refreshed and hit Alba Berlin with a 5-0 run as Dutch guard Sydnee Bjlisma connected on a trey and role player Emilijus Peleda scored on the back door as Grunloh supplied the dime as Alba Berlin led only 35-32. The Young Rasta Dragons upped their intensity, were calmer on offense and made better decisions while their bench players made big plays. After Bayram and Peleda supplied scoring punch from the free throw line, Amon Doerries took Alba Berlin into half time with a runner and 37-36 advantage. ‘I thought we would get away after that first run, but Vechta showed heart coming back. There were good phases by both teams, but no team could get away. Each team always had an answer’, stated Ellias Rapieque. Alba Berlin shot 40% from the field and 36% from the three point line and had 19 rebounds and 11 turnovers while the Young Rasta Dragons shot 39% from the field and 36% from the three point line and had 20 rebounds and 13 turnovers.

Rikus Schulte to the hole

In the third quarter Alba Berlin broke away getting their highest lead of the game of 10 points, but after 3 quarters were starring at only a 2 point lead. Linus Ruff continued to wreck havoc in the paint making an offensive rebound and putback for the 39-36 lead, but the Young Rasta Dragons always had an answer and needed big time support from their role players and got it by Jegor Cymbal who scored 19 points in the 2022 NBBL final against Alba Berlin making an offensive rebound and put back and three pointer to dead lock the contest at 42-42 after Machowski had dropped a trey. In the NBBL semi-final the day before Alba Berlin guard Jamal Entezami had made the dunk of the weekend flying through the zone, but Noah Jannen gave him a good run for the money with a crushing one handed dunk over Schulte for the 44-42 lead. The game seemed to be an even affair, but Alba Berlin then took control running out on a lethal 14-2 run to lead 56- 64. In the run Alba Berlin showed how dangerous their offense can be getting 2 three’s by Schulte and Kayil while Machowski and Jannis Berger made lay in’s. Anytime you lose a little intensity and concentration, Alba Berlin makes you pay as the Young Rasta Dragons witnessed how quickly a close game can get into the opponent leading by double digits. But as usual the Young Rasta Dragons retaliated and showed immense heart slapping a 10-2 run in the face of Alba Berlin and trailing only 58-56 after 30 minutes. In the run the Young Rasta Dragons let it rain three’s as Noah Jannen took control once again hitting 2 three’s while Mr X-factor Karl Buhner nailed a trey. ‘Noah is so important for us. I can’t imagine how much this loss hurts for him. We all fought, but Noah as captain showed real heart. He has been here so long. He lives for this team. He is such a good leader and person’, commented Kaya Bayram. ‘We have a real good connection to Vechta. We have been a match up for the longest time. I know all the kids from the birth year 2004. Noah played a great game’, expressed Elias Rapieque. Alba Berlin shot 39% from the field and 35% from the parking lot and had 25 rebounds and 14 turnovers while the Young Rasta Dragons shot 40% from the field and 41% from the parking lot and had 35 rebounds and 21 turnovers.

Sydnee Bijlisma with the floater

The first 5 minutes of the fourth quarter must of felt like a nightmare for Young Rasta Dragons head coach Hendrik Gruhn as his teams couldn’t score, but did it feel worse for Alba Berlin head coach Vladimir Bogojevic as his team could only muster 6 points and not more and decide the final earlier? Alba Berlin made 10 consecutive stops, but only got free throws form Entezami and Machowski while Rapieque made a lay in for the 64-56 advantage. The Young Rasta Dragons finally got on the score board at the 5,09 minute mark as Killian Brockhoff made a trey to cut Alba Berlin’s lead to 64-61. Ruff and Grunloh then traded dunks and Schulte made an old school running hook shot as Alba Berlin still led 68-63. Rapieque then stole the ball from Jannen and made a hard 2 handed dunk as Alba Berlin led 70-63 and were threatening to decide the game at the 3,53 minute mark. But as usual the Young Rasta Dragons had an answer and their heart and soul Noah Jannen came through again with a clutch three pointer and three three pointers and suddenly Alba Berlin led only 70-69. With no one noticing the Young Rasta Dragons had escaped on a 9-0 run as Brockhoff added a trey and Alba Berlin trailed 72-70 with 1,29 minutes to play. But Alba Berlin was still wide awake on defense as Rapieque made a key steal and dunk to tie the game 72-72 with 1,01 to play. Alba Berlin made the next punch as Schulte dropped a trey for the 75-72 lead with 23 seconds to play. The Young Rasta Dragons surprised some instead of going for the quick two getting another clutch three by Jannen to dead lock the contest at 75-75 with 17 seconds to play. ‘I always thought we could get away but they always had an answer. But Vechta never gave up. We had to play more physical. They were really giving us problems’, said Ellias Rapieque. ‘We came back played zone and gave them problems. Alba Lives from their energy and we just continued to fight until the end’, said Kaya Bayram. Alba Berlin had the last possession and Nils Machowski became the hero making a breathtaking off balance shot game winner for the title. ‘I looked over at coach, but he didn’t even look at me. I didn’t want to dribble much. I practice that shot a lot and like taking it’, smiled Nils Machowski. ‘It was a tough shot, but I had a good feeling it would go in’, stated Rikus Schulte. ‘I have to be honest at first look, I didn’t think it would go in. But he can make those shots. He practices them all the time’, smiled Ellias Rapieque. Alba Berlin was led by Rikus Schulte with 20 points. Nils Machowski added 17 points and Linus Ruff had 12 points while the Young Rasta Dragons were led by Noah Jannen with 25 points while Killian Brockhoff added 19 points. Alba Berlin shot 39% from the field and 33% from outside and had 38 rebounds and 19 turnovers while the Young Rasta Dragons shot 39% form the field and 38% from outside and had 45 rebounds and 27 turnovers.

Alba Berlin NBBL and JBBL 2023 champion teams