With more than 9 months together as a team, it came down to 1 game for the Fraport Skyliners. The team had won the ultimate do or die game in Trier in an environment that was as far as from their living room as the North pole. Somehow they stuck it out and won and now had another do or die game in the Pro A final against PS Karlsruhe. The question was did they want it as much as game 5 in Trier. They had made the jump back to the easyCredit BBL and was the fire left for a scoring explosion in Frankfurt? In the Pro A final the winner is crowned with the best points difference in the 2 final games. In the first game in Karlsruhe, the Fraport Skyliners had their ups and downs, but like most of this season always showed their fighting qualities and come back qualities. However a 10-0 run to start the fourth quarter sparked PS Karlsruhe to a 93-79 win which left Frankfurt reeling for air, as they had to win in Frankfurt by 15 points or more to secure the 2024 Pro A title. But this simply wasn´t their final as PS Karlsruhe showed clearly in both games that they wanted it more. PS Karlsruhe played fantastic team basketball at both ends and were consistent and never lost their intensity. “Coach told us before the final that we had 1 big game. Each game was a half. We competed hard both games and played with high intensity. We had our doubters the whole season, but we always believed we could beat anyone. We had a great group of guys that fed off each other. When you have good guys working together, usually good things happen. Defending well and consistent for 2 games got us the title”, stressed PS Karlsruhe guard Victor Bailey Jr (193-SG-1998, college: GMU) Frankfurt just weren´t at the same intensity level than PS Karlsruhe and it was quite apparent what had been their real true final. “We had a long playoff series and 5 games against Trier. We wanted to compete to win in the final against Karlsruhe, but the most important goal was getting back to the BBL and we achieved that. We came beat up into the final. They wanted it more and Trier really was our final”, stressed Fraport Skyliner Ife Ajayi.

Justin Onyejiaka

The Fraport Skyliners entered the game with a bang hitting 2 three´s back to back from Minnesota native Booker Coplin and Canadian Aíden Warnholtz and it looked like Frankfurt may have some offensive power brewing up. But as rapidly as Frankfurt got going, so did PS Karlsruhe punching back with a swift 7-0 run to lead 7-6 as ex BBL player Julian Albus made free throws, Danish lanky forward Bakary Dibba hit a trey after making the block and Texas native Vincent Bailey made an off balance shot. Both teams offenses began to roll as both let it rain three´s as Canadian David Muenkat connected twice while the guests got three´s from Albus and Bailey for the 15-12 advantage. PS Karlsruhe had that incredible intensity, but one could see early on that Frankfurt was playing, but didn´t have that defensive aggressiveness that could help them go on that giant run that they needed so badly. Both teams continued to execute as 2 time NBBL allstar Garai Zeeb connected on the three ball and ex NBA Summer League player Kevin McClain made a lay in as Frankfurt trailed 18-16. “I was happy with our start. It was a good one. We came into the game with a lot of energy and fought hard”, stated Vincent Bailey jr. PS Karlsruhe shot 30% from the field and 36% from outside and had 15 rebounds and 3 turnovers while the Fraport Skyliners shot 33% from the field and 44% from outside and had 9 rebounds and 2 turnovers.

Jesse Ani from outside

In the second quarter PS Karlsruhe made their move and were able to lead in double figures and they would never look back again in this game. PS Karlsruhe jumped all over the Fraport Skyliners going on a 15-4 run to extend their lead to 33-20. In the run, they had good ball movement, but also began with their alley-oop show as New Jersey native Dennis Tunstall had his first of three alley-oop dunks in the game. Zeeb and Bailey dropped three pointers and Georgia native O Showen Williams and German Dominick Von Waarden made lay in´s. PS Karlsruhe dictated the game well and their high intensity and hustle plays continued to be too much for Frankfurt. Frankfurt also had mis fortune missing easy shots. Frankfurt attempted to play inside out basketball and got some layin´s from Jordan Samare and 2018 NBBL champion Lorenz Brenneke. But PS Karlsruhe were hustling and never lost that intensity, but at the same time were clearly having fun as their alley-oop show continued as Dibba made a big dunk for the 40-27 advantage. But the three ball wasn´t totally non existent as Garai Zeeb and Jordan Samare traded three´s to end the second quarter as PS Karlsruhe had the comfortable 42-32 lead. “Our early three´s fueled our game. We continued to defend with a high intensity and made everything tough for Frankfurt”, commented Vincent Bailey. “That early run hurt us. They crashed the boards really well and we couldn´t stop the bleeding”, stated California native Ife Ajayi. PS Karlsruhe shot 42% from the field and 38% from the three point line and had 24 rebounds and 5 turnovers while the Fraport Skyliners shot 33% from the field and 28% from the three point line and had 18 rebounds and 6 turnovers.

Kevin McClain with the lay in

The Fraport Skyliners were able to improve their scoring output in each quarter and mastered 29 points in the third quarter heightening their lead to 18 points and ultimately deciding the game. PS Karlsruhe came out of the break hot as usual starting with a 9-2 run to up their lead to 52-34. In the run, it was the lethal guard play of the guests that sparked their play. Williams added 4 points and Bailey 5 points. After an Ajayi trey, PS Karlsruhe played run again going on a 8-2 run to extend their lead to 60-39. In the run Garai Zeeb hit 4 free throws and Bailey made 4 points including a pretty reverse dunk. PS Karlsruhe played with no pressure and just continued to have fun while the Fraport Skyliners looked tight and were playing as if they were hoping the game would end soon. Dibba continued to be a menace in the paint grabbing rebound after rebound and thanks to his slick athleticism could do what he wanted to as he made 2 lay in´s for the 67-43 advantage. Frankfurt had little bright spots, but did get a buzzer beater trey from Bruno Albrecht to end the third quarter, but did trail 71-53. “You could see that Frankfurt had a tough series against Trier and fatigue was creeping in. But we focused on ourselves and wanted to continue to play strong and not let up. We didn´t want them to see life, but let go of the rope”, expressed Vincent Bailey Jr. “They ran away with the game, but I thought that we did a better job in this game running and playing more together”, expressed Ife Ajayi. PS Karlsruhe shot 45% from the field and 35% from the parking lot and had 33 rebounds and 8 turnovers while the Fraport Skyliners shot 35% from the field and 33% from the three point line and had 25 rebounds and 13 turnovers.

Victor Bailey Jr

The Fraport Skyliners finished the season with a strong scoring quarter with 27 points thanks to a hot Cameron Henry who scored all of his 11 points in the last frame, but it was too little too late. PS Karlsruhe began the fourth quarter off hot with a 11-4 run to extend their lead to 82-57. The PS Karlsruhe team had their hottest alley-oop show in this run as Dennis Tunstall made his second and third alley-oop dunks of the game and Dibba also added a massive one handed dunk. “Our dunking today was like when you see that first three go in, you feel more comfortable and more follow.It was the same today with our dunks. Both Tunstall and Dibba are very athletic and make the game exciting with their plays. They showed what they can do at a high level”, warned Vincent Bailey Jr. “Those 2 guys put on a show. They are very mobile and jump well. They are great players. I have a lot of respect for them”, said Ife Ajayi. PS Karlsruhe knew that they had the title in their pocket and let their feet a bit off the gas pedal and allowed the Fraport Skyliners to close out the game strong with a 23-10 run. Cameron Henry finished his rookie season with a bang with 2 three´s and 2 lay in´s. Ex Schwenningen big man Jacob Knauf also added a three pointer and Justin Onyejiaka a lay in. Little used Latvian player Bogdans Kiselovs came in at the end and added a 20 footer in the title win for PS Karlsruhe. Vincent Bailey was the finals MVP as he dropped 48 points in the 2 games. “My coaches and teammates always told me to be aggressive. I´m really happy for their support and am happy I could help my team as best as possible in the final to get the title”, said Victor Bailey Jr. PS Karlsruhe was led by Victor Bailey Jr with 25 points. Bakary Dibba added 14 points and Dennis Tunstall 12 points while the Fraport Skyliners were led by Cameron Henry with 11 points while Justin Onyejiaka had 10 points. PS Karlsruhe shot 47% from the field and 27% from outside and had 40 rebounds and 10 turnovers while the Fraport Skyliners shot 40% from the field and 36% from outside and had 34 rebounds and 14 turnovers.