Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Johan Gruenloh

My biggest highlight of my basketball broadcasting season is always the JBBL (U-16) and NBBL (U-19) top 4 that is held every year in May. This small tournament features Germany´s best teams and youth players battling to win the titles. I enjoy it so much, because you can witness how young men compete and then years later be able to remember this time when they continue to move up the basketball ladder into the pro ranks. Guys that I had seen in the last years that have made a name for themselves were players like Franz Wagner, Bruno Vrcic, Nelson Weidemann, Benjamin Schroeder, Jonas Mattissek and Nils Machowski. I also enjoy being able to do the play by play even if it is very challenging calling 4 semi-finals on Saturday and 2 finals on Sunday. The 4 semi-finals is the biggest challenge of the season for me simply because I´m in nonstop action from 11:00 am to about 22:00 am with very little time for breaks and small talk with people attending the great event. Being able to remember all the names of the players is the biggest challenge. Making mistakes and here and there mixing up players happens every time. Preparation is a big part of being able to be as successful as possible in describing the action on the court. This was my sixth top 4 after having been in Frankfurt 3 times, in Quackenbruck and in Jena. This year it was in Berlin and I would have my longest road trip so far covering this illustrious event.

Dirk Bauermann and Steffen Hamann

I had some real misfortune this time around as on that weekend where the top 4 was scheduled for, I had some personal business as well that I couldn´t realize. My Aunt had a massive family get together on Friday night and my town had the annual kirmes activity. But what one doesn´t do for the love of the game? My journey to Berlin began on Friday afternoon as I took the ICE train to Berlin. I don´t travel much by ICE anymore these days so much, so being able to take in the pretty landscape was something I enjoyed. Besides reading notes for my broadcast and reading some basketball literature, I was able to sit back and rest a bit before the stress would start on Saturday. It may be stress, but, but stress I love. There is a big difference there. I arrived in Berlin on Friday night around 21:30 and still had to take a tram and subway to finally reach my destination. A big non basketball highlight occurred at the Berlin main train station. I was searching for the tram and first asked 3 women who gave me that feared famous line “We aren´t from Berlin, we can´t help you”. Then I moved to my right and observed a well dressed lady who was just standing there minding her own business and then I asked her if this track was where the train went to Charlottenberg. She said yes. Then I just blurted out. “hey I know you”. She respondes “No you don´t”. Yes I do. You played on the Soap opera “Unter Uns. You see I did watch your show”. The lady was Petra Blossey a German actress who was one of the stars on Unter Uns between 1994-2019. She smiled and it seemed like she didn´t really want anyone to know. We got on the train and mingled briefly and I told her my story. I asked her for a selfie and she just said. “Let´s try to make it as discreetly as possible”, she smiled. Well everybody saw it, but no one cared. I finally arrived my hotel at 22:15. There I checked in and met with journalist Jan Finken and some of the employees of the NBBL and DBB who were chatting. Later I arrived in my room and went to sleep. I needed enough rest for the big Saturday with 4 games.

Yanu Slingerland

Over the years I had had many side kicks, guys that had done play by play with me and this time it wouldn´t be any different. I was assigned a who´s who of the best known German basketball figures that one could only imagine. I would have the pleasure calling games with legendary ex German national team coach Dirk Bauermann who had won 9 BBL titles and led Germany with Dirk Nowitzki to the Silver at the Euro 2005, Steffen Hamann an ex player who had been on that 2005 national team and played most of his career with Bamberg, current U-18 youth national team coach Alen Ibrahimagic and ex player Jan Jagla who had had an illustrious career playing at the 2008 Olympics and winning the 2008 ULEB Cup with Spanish ACB team Joventut and Ricky Rubio. The first game was at 11 am and pitted the Baskets Juniors Oldenburg against Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg. It was the Oldenburg Cinderella story of the season against Ludwigsburg that had won the JBBL title before in 2015. Oldenburg had come into the season as a team that probably wouldn´t even make the playoffs, but in the end had an incredible 18 winning streak. The players developed time by time and the self-confidence rose as well. This was a game where Oldenburg was never in danger of losing. Oldenburg began quickly scorching Ludwigsburg for 29 points in the first quarter. Ludwigsburg did find an offensive groove in the second and third quarter scoring 46 points combined, but couldn´t damper Oldenburg´s offense much as they also scored at ease. In the fourth quarter, Oldenburg showed once more their heart allowing only 8 points and easily sealing the win. Oldenburg´s 2 stars Yanu Slingerland and Djordje Klaric combined for 50 points showing their incredible game as a potent duo. I got the ultimate compliment as Dirk Bauermann said as the game began that it was an honor to call a game with me. He was an incredible analyst who gave insightful information about the players. I was able to call the second game with Steffen Hamann who is coach of the German U-15 team. He as well was a great side kick giving his knowledgeable insights about the young boys. This game was between Alba Berlin and Ratiopharm Ulm and belonged to the most exciting game of the weekend. This is a game that deserved 2 winners. Both teams gave it their all, but Alba Berlin eked out the exciting 86-83 victory in overtime. It was the duel between the 2 stars Anton Kemmer and Teo Millic and nobody disappointed as they combined for 56 points. Alba Berlin trailed with 24 points at halftime, but made an inspiring comeback in the second half. It was a total team effort and it was Anton Kemmer that tied the game at 73-73 with 13 seconds remaining to send the game into OT. In the end it was the deeper bench of Alba Berlin that prevailed. Ulm was exhausted and star Millic had cramps. Kemmer made the big shot for the 84-83 lead and win.

Djordje Klaric

One wondered if one could top the Alba-Ulm game, and the first NBBL semi-final proved to be another very exciting game as FC Bayern Munich battled the Young Rasta Dragons. I called this game with German U-18 head coach Alan Ibrahimagic. He also gave insightful facts about the top players and game. For me this was the real final that really was only a semi-final. It was a game that showcased the top guards in youth basketball with Ivan Kharchenkov and Martin Kalu and Jack Kayil (191-PG-2006) and Joshua Bonga. A big factor in the game was Vechta being able to insert top German prospect Johan Gruenloh who had played only 1 NBBL game and had concentrated his season with the easyCredit BBL. Munich came out strong and had the 20-14 advantage after one quarter, but Vechta fought back and led 34-33 thanks to their strong guard duo. The Young Rasta Dragons took control in the third quarter once again thanks to the dominating play of Kayil as well as Gruenloh who hit 2 three´s to lead by 8 points after 30 minutes. In the fourth quarter FC Bayern Minuten made a last run under the watchful eyes of Marko Pesic who was there to watch son Luca play. But in crunch-time the guard duo of Kayil and Bonga was too much as they sealed the win with clutch three´s to win 78-71. Johan Gruenloh was the X-factor with his 23/14 game. I was able to call the last NBBL semi-final game between the Baskets Juniors Oldenburg and Porsche BBA Ludwisgburg with ex player Jan Jagla. He also displayed informative facts about the game and the youth players. Ludwigsburg went into the game as the favorite, but trailed 20-15 after a quarter. Ludwigsburg found better to their game and heightened their field goal percentage and were led by athletic freak Esli Edigin that supplied 12 points. Oldenburg took control of the game in the third quarter to lead 60-43 as the three point accuracy of Milan Evin was massive. Ludwigsburg fought and trailed only 60-57 thanks to a big 3 from Marko Masic, but in crunch-time, Oldenburg had the better nerves winning 81-74. Milan Evin led alls corers with 20 points.

Karl Buehner

On Sunday morning, I once again was in the lobby at 9:30 and asked the Oldenburg coaching staff if I could ride the bus to the arena. The coaching staff just smiled. Of course you can. You are our good luck charm. You rode with us yesterday and gave us luck and will do the same today. Being their good luck charm was my other best personal experience at the weekend. I once again called the game with Dirk Bauermann. The first final was the JBBL final between the Baskets Juniors Oldenburg and Alba Berlin and this promised to be a classic. It had the same kind of course as the first game for Alba Berlin. The first half was a close battle, but in the third quarter like against Ulm, Alba Berlin struggled and trailed 65-52 as the dynamic duo of Klaric and Slingerland dominated. But Alba Berlin wasn´t about to lay down and wilt like a flower, but made one last run in the fourth quarter led by Anton Kemmer´s powerful game and key three´s by Fin Borczanowski and Sebastian Christancho dead locked the game at 70-70. Big man Bruno Walz made the game winning shot with 11 seconds. Alba Berlin had one more chance for OT, but the ball didn´t fall. Slingerland had a monster game of 23/18 and 8 steals while Djordje Klaric had 28 points and was voted Top 4 MVP. I had 3 hours time until the NBBL final as the girl´s final was in between. In this time, I was able to mingle with people I knew from the German basketball scene. People I saw and others that I mingled with included people like Paul Albrecht, Tyseem Lyles, Jannik Freese, Allan Ray, Gerrit Kerstin-Thiele, Darren Stackhose (cousin of NBA legend Jerry Stackhouse), Martin Funkele and Joe Asberry. It was especially sweet to see Asberry as he is a guy I talk to daily, but never see much because he lives in Berlin. The second final was at 5:00 pm and this was between the Young Rasta Dragons and the Baskets Juniors Oldenburg. Vechta was the massive favorite and showed quickly that for them this year would be three is a charm. After losing the last 2 finals, there was no way that they would lose this one. I called the NBBL final with Alan Ibrahimagic again. The Young Rasta Dragons controlled the game and were never in danger of losing the game. Their strongest quarters were the second and fourth where they combined for 52 points. The Young Rasta Dragons had the deeper rotation and were rewarded with 6 guys that scored in double figures and were led by Jack Kayil and Karl Buehner that had 16 points a piece. Jack Kayil was awarded the Top 4 MVP. I left the gym at 8.15 and took the train home at 9:15 and was back home at 4:30 am. All in all, it was another great Top 4 that had many exciting and down to the wire games. For me as well, it was another incredible basketball experience. Thanks to the NBBL for letting me be a part of it again.