The Fraport Skyliners may have landed in the Pro A this season and won´t be able to battle the big mighty FC Bayern Munich, but that doesn´t stop fans from being able to see Germany´s most famous sports organization in Frankfurt this season. Ok so the farm team FC Bayern Munich don´t have ex NBA players Serge Ibaka or Carsen Edwards, but they do have some of it´s countries youngest and most talented guys like Ivan Kharchenkov and Martin Kalu. Both clubs began a little under the weather coming into the fourth game of the season with identical 1-2 records. After losing it´s second game of the season, the club regrouped last week winning an exciting 84-80 game against the aspiring farm club Orange Academy of ratiopharm Ulm without Kharchenkov. The Fraport Skyliners Juniors on the other had began the season on a high with a massive home win over Breitengussbach, but then got cold in Leitershofen scoring only 50 points and last weekend had a long 2 hour drive home after succumbing to the Dragons Rhondorf in double overtime 106-99. This game was definitely a stepping stone for Frankfurt to get back to their winning ways. On a cool autumn Saturday night, FC Bayern Munich arrived on the floor with not only their 2 massive young guns Ivan Kharchenkov and Martin Salu, but also Montenegran national player Dino Radoncic who at age 23 played 3 years with Real Madrid and made his Euroleague debut at age 16. The Fraport Skyliners Juniors definitely had their hands full as their walking wounded list was still as long as the Brooklyn bridge. FC Bayern Munich overpowered Frankfurt from the start and the Juniors had to play pick up basketball until the end losing 80-65. “They definitely had a talented team, but in general we have to be better than the way we were. We had no energy on defense and allowed them to start well. We played better defense from the second quarter to the end. But we didn´t execute the way we should of on offense. Everything we did seemed like 50%, stated Fraport Skyliner Junior Felix Hecker. FC Bayern Munich had a very young team and excelled with their trio of Radoncic, Kharchenkov and Kalu who combined for 51 points. All in all it was a positive day at the office for FC Bayern Munich. “We played well for 35 minutes. We had a down phase in the third quarter where we allowed them to come back. But we stopped their run with good team defense and got easy baskets on transition”, stressed FC Bayern Munich guard Ivan Kharchenkov.

Trevian Bell With step back jumper

FC Bayern Munich 2 jumped all over the Fraport Skyliners Juniors in the first quarter taking a rapid 14-2 lead. FC Bayern Munich played aggressive defense from the start and forced Frankfurt too countless turnovers and rewarded themselves off their mistakes with easy baskets. Dino Radoncic scored 5 points in the run as did young talent Martin Kalu as their strength and athleticism was too much too handle for Frankfurt. Munich spread the offensive love around as energetic guard Dominic Dolic hit a mid distance shot and Ivan Volf made a thunderous dunk on transition after hauling in the touch down pass from Radoncic. Frankfurt lacked concentration in their offensive sets, but worked hard on the boards. But the Fraport Skyliners Juniors finally woke up in the last 5 minutes going on a 8-4 run to cut the guests lead to 18-10 after 10 minutes. Frankfurt came back by upping their intensity and making the right hustle plays at the right time. Ex Kronberg center Florian Dietrich made a tap in, ex Trier forward Nils Leonhardt a offensive rebound and put back while Jordan Samare finished in brute mode on transition with a hard dunk. FC Bayern Munich 2 shot solidly from the field at 47% and 40% from outside while Frankfurt shot a poor 24% from the field and pathetic 0% from outside. Frankfurt owned the boards 16-9 with 9-2 offensive rebounds, but had 7 turnovers while FC Bayern Munich had 3 turnovers. “Munich had the more talented team and it showed. Frankfurt worked hard on the boards, but just couldn´t stick with Munich”, stated Charlote Hornets scout Yassin Idbihi.

Dino Radoncic at the FT line

In the second quarter FC Bayern Munich continued to control the game well as the Fraport Skyliners Juniors continued to be inconsistent and just have difficulty on offensive execution. Frankfurt like in the first quarter had problems getting on the board as FC Bayern Munich stopped Frankfurt´s first 5 possessions. 3 level scorer Ivan Kharchenkov had missed his first 2 shots in the first quarter, but slowing him down over 40 minutes is tough. Sooner or later he will get going. He got his first bucket with a left handed lay in and then made a great play making a touch pass in Luka Doncic manner to Desmond Yiamu for the easy lay in as FC Bayern Munich led 23-10. Frankfurt finally got on the board with their first field goal at the 6,23 minute mark as Felix Hecker set up Jordan Samare for the easy lay in. Frankfurt had their moments on offense as Nils Leonhardt sunk a trey after receiving the perfect kick out pass from Philipp Hadenfeldt as Frankfurt trailed only 23-15. But whenever Frankfurt was creeping back, FC Bayern Munich had an answer. Walking bucket Ivan Kharchenkov displayed his versatile offense making a 20 footer off the glass and then a thunderous dunk for the 27-15 advantage.”Kharchenkov is one of Germany´s biggest talents. His physicality and shot stand out most. Pablo Laso has shown in the past that he likes to play young players. I think Ivan will get his minutes for the BBL team”, commented Yassin Idbihi. Frankfurt retaliated with baskets from Illinois native Trevian Bell and Florian Dietrich, but Kalu dropped a trey as the Fraport Skyliners Juniors trailed 30-20. FC Bayern Munich continued to play good team basketball, but they couldn´t stop the individual class of Kharchenkov and Kalu. Frankfurt´s offense was more fluid thanks to the fine playmaking of Hadenfeldt and they continued to work hard on the glass. Bot teams executed well until half-time as FC Bayern Munich got baskets from Radoncic with a lay in, Kalu drilled home another three pointer and Dolic hit a 15 footer while the Fraport Skyliners Juniors got support from Jordan Samare and Alvin Onyia with lay ins as Frankfurt trailed 37-24. FC Bayern Munich shot 56% from the field and 50% from the three point line while Frankfurt shot 26% from the field and 6% from the three point line. Munich upped their rebounding as they only trailed Frankfurt 23-20, but 13-2 on the offensive glass and had 8 turnovers in the second quarter and 11 in total as Frankfurt only had 10 turnovers. “Frankfurt came back with fight but all in all didn´t create good enough shots. Frankfurt defended well, but couldn´t play their game on offense”, expressed Yassin Idbihi.

Florian Dietrich with the lay in

The Fraport Skyliners Juniors played their best basketball in the third quarter, but still couldn´t get over the hump and get the lead. Dolic got FC Bayern Munich on the board first with a lay in, but the Fraport Skyliners Juniors then finally found a healthy offensive groove going on a 10-0 run to cut the guests lead down to 39-34. In the run the Fraport Skyliners Juniors did a fine job attacking the paint area getting buckets from Jordan Samare who scored twice and Hecker once. Trevian Bell was always active and dangerous and when he had room from the three point line, he let it fly and scored a three pointer. FC Bayern Munich had lost their rhythm and just got away from their fluid team basketball while Frankfurt got no gifts, but had to work hard for everything. Kharchenkov and Bell traded three pointers as Frankfurt was still on Munich´s heels trailing 42-38. After a Dolic trey, it was Nils Leonhardt who showed his scoring in bunches scoring twice inside as Hadenfeldt gave him a shovel pass for the first basket and on the second, he spun to success and two points as Frankfurt trailed 47-42. But the Fraport Skyliners Juniors just couldn´t get over the hump as they couldn´t control Kalu who made a coast to coast run and lay in while Kharchenkov made a step back jumper and three pointer as FC Bayern Munich held on to a comfortable 57-47 advantage after 3 quarters. “We let up a bit. We were sloppy on offense and no had communication on defense. We thought the game was over, but we still had 10 minutes to play”, expressed Ivan Kharchenkov. “We finally hit shots. We also put more pressure on them with our defense. But their young guys continued to hit shots and up their confidence”, commented Felix Hecker. FC Bayern Munich shot 52% from the field and 47% from the parking lot and had 26 rebounds and 13 turnovers while the Fraport Skyliners Juniors shot 33% from the field and 12% from the parking lot and had 34 rebounds and 14 turnovers.

Dominic Dolic from outside

In the fourth quarter the Fraport Skyliners Juniors continued to fight back, but couldn´t cut the lead any lower than 8 points as FC Bayern Munich just continued to execute well and get support from many players. Radoncic got FC Bayern Munich on the board first with a lay in, but Jordan Samare who was with Trevian Bell Frankfurt´s best player on the night made a 3 point play to cut Munich´s lead to 59-51. But the guests always had an answer as Radoncic scored again with a tap in and Ivan Volf nailed a trey as Frankfurt trailed 64-51. FC Bayern Munich continued to have a good flow on offense and just too many weapons that executed when it was needed. Frankfurt was inconsistent and were always punished with their mistakes. Frankfurt was getting tired and gave up 2 baskets inside to Yiamu and Radoncic as FC Bayern Munich led 69-53. FC Bayern Munich then slammed the door shut on Frankfurt as Kharchenkov and Kalu dropped back to back three´s for the commanding 75-57 advantage. Kharcehnkov had made some tough shots but saved his best for last as he drilled home a long step back three that was so high, it seemed like it may scrape the ceiling, but didn´t. “I looked at the shot clock and saw 6 seconds. I didn´t see any space in the zone, so I opted to take the step back shot. I had a good feeling it would go in”, smiled Ivan Kharchenkov. Frankfurt got some clutch buckets in the last few minutes as Bell hit a three pointer and Florian Dietrich scored on transition, but it was too little too late as Frankfurt lost their third game of the season and FC Bayern Munich went to 2-2. “We played consistent defense and had less turnovers. We did the simple things well at a high level”, stated Ivan Kharchenkov. “They hit crazy shots. If you let them play, then they will make those shots. They play with a lot of self-confidence”, stated Felix Hecker. FC Bayern Munich was led by Dino Radoncic with 19 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists. Ivan Kharchenkov added 17 points and martin Kalu ahd 15 points while the Fraport skyliners Juniors were led by Jordan Samare and Trevian Bell with 14 points a piece. FC Bayern Munich shot 51% from the field and 42% from outside and had 38 rebounds and 16 turnovers while the Fraport Skyliners Juniors shot 34% from the field and 15% from outside and had 46 rebounds and 18 turnovers.