There were times in the history of the Frankfurt-Alba Berlin games over the past 20 years where both were playoff teams whenever they battled each other. They even had exciting playoff series where Frankfurt always gave Germanys capital city team a good run for the money. Then there were times also were Alba Berlin was still a top team and Frankfurt wasn´t a playoff team anymore where the games weren´t always exciting. But now there is a scenario where both are struggling teams, a concept that has never been seen before. The Frankfurt Skyliners are a team that has arrived in 2025 as a team that is fighting to stay in the league. Luckily for them, there is an even worse team then them with BG Goettingen who only have 1 win. In other years Frankfurt would currently be the door mat of the league. Alba Berlin hasn´t had a great year coming in in 13th place with only 2 wins more than Frankfurt. Their abundance in losing is something difficult to digest. They are 3/16 in Euroleague play and the only positive thing for them going into this game was that they had upset FC Bayern Munich last weekend. Alba Berlin was still a scoring club, but defensively were in another galaxy. If Frankfurt had some of their walking wounded back, then this could be a game where they could compete. Frankfurt had their chances in an overall poor offensive performance and when a Trey Calvin is missing and other walking bucket Malik Parsons gets held to 2 points and 1/8 shooting and 5 turnovers, you will have problems winning. Plus coughing up the ball 26 times didn´t help their cause either. “We missed many shots. You can´t have 26 turnovers against a team like Alba Berlin. They did a good job converting on our turnovers and Matt Thomas (195-SG-1994, college: Iowa St.) shot lights out”, stressed New Jersey native Jordan Theodore. Alba Berlin didn´t have a great offensive game, but really sparkled on defense for 40 minutes. “We defended very well. Frankfurt was annoyed with our good 1-1 defense. Being able to hold Parsons to 2 points was a big step for us. We didn´t have a good offensive game. If we would have had a better offensive game, then we would of won a lot easier”, stressed Alba Berlin assistant coach Thomas Paech.

Yanni Wezell with the lay in

5000 basketball fans came out on a cold Sunday evening and rapidly saw a lightening start of Alba Berlin as they slapped around Frankfurt taking the quick 15-2 advantage. Alba Berlin had the correct body language and intensity while Frankfurt seemed passive and like they just got out of bed. Alba Berlin did a great job in the paint area dominating Frankfurt. Ex NBA player Matt Thomas scored with a lay in and connected with 3 free throws while NBA draft pick Gabriel Procida of Italy was aggressive and scored twice while German Tim Schneider had 2 dunks. Frankfurt couldn´t match Alba Berlin´s physicality and on offense had problems getting into their sets. Frankfurt finally escaped their funk going on a 12-6 run to trail 21-14. Einaras Tubutis hit 2 three pointers while ex Boston College forward Patrick Heckman and Alaska native Kamaka Hepa scored inside. Frankfurt was more aggressive and played good inside out ball. However Frankfurt couldn´t keep that intensity to the end as Alba Berlin finished with a 5-0 run to lead 26-14 after 10 minutes. Alba Berlin got production from ex LIU Brooklyn (NCAA) player Martin Hermannsson with free throws and a lay in and free throws by Australian center Yanni Wetzell. “We showed our presence on defense right away and had little mistakes”, stated Thoams Paech. “We had a bad start. I was trying to find my feel for the game. I picked up my game then and the team fed off me”, stressed Jordan Theodre. Alba Berlin shot 56% from the field and 0% from outside and had 12 rebounds and 3 turnovers while the Frankfurt Skyliners shot 36% from the field and 29% from outside and had 12 rebounds and 3 turnovers.

Kamaka Hepa at the FT line

In the second quarter the Frankfurt Skyliners rebounded from their poor first quarter and began with a 11-3 run to trail 29-25. In the run Frankfurt began to defend more aggressively while Jordan Theodore and Booker Coplin carried the team. They did all the scoring while the team was getting no production from walking bucket Malik Parsons. “He is young. He had some really great games for us. Other teams defenses are starting to key in on him. He has to find ways around that”, warned Jordan Theodore. But even if Alba Berlin isn´t having a great BBL season, they still have enough offensive talent to get away fast. They went on a lightening 7-0 run as Matt Thomas had 5 points and Procida a pretty reverse alley-oop dunk with the nifty dime from Thomas. “I´m starting to find my rhythm again after my surgery. My team did a great job finding me in the right spots”, stated Matt Thomas. Frankfurt punched back with a swift 5-0 run as Theodore made a lay in and Tubutis another trey to trail 36-30. Thomas nailed another trey and 2022 NBBL champion Elias Rapique made a lay in while Frankfurt countered with another Theodore lay in and massive dunk from 2018 NBBL champion Lorenz Brenneke, but Frankfurt was unable to get over the hump trailing 41-36. “We let them get too much in the zone and allowed them to create and make plays”, said Thomas Paech. “I played more pick and roll and kept the ball in my hands and found guys. We rebounded a lot better”, added Jordan Theodore. Alba Berlin shot 48% from the field and 25% from the three point line and had 19 rebounds and 10 turnovers while the Frankfurt Skyliners shot 45% from the field and 25% from the three point line and had 14 rebounds and 10 turnovers.

Jordan Theodore with the floater

In the third quarter both teams struggled offensively and Frankfurt cut it down to 3 points, but once again couldn´t get over the hump and missed golden opportunities. Canadian David Muenkat got Frankfurt on the board first with a lay in as Frankfurt trailed 41-38, but couldn´t get stops as Alba Berlin reacted with a 5-0 run to lead 46-38. Matt Thomas stroked home another three pointer and Hermannsson hit a 20 footer. Frankfurt didn´t give up and just continued fighting and chipping away at the guests lead as Tubutis made a lay in and Hepa a clutch trey to get close again trailing 46-43. Tubutis not only had his shooting stroke on, but he was on fire on defense as he kept making big blocks and steals and had 5 blocks and 3 steals after 40 minutes. “My defense stood out, but that’s how I play. I don´t think they expected that from me. I just did my job”, said Einaras Tubutis. Frankfurt just couldn´t get over the hump as Alba Berlin always found a way to hurt Frankfurt with 1-1 play. Procida made a lay and Wetzell a tip in dunk for the 56-48 advantage. Parsons continued to have the goose egg and was 0/5 and Alba Berlin led 57-48 after 30 minutes. “Our 1-1 defense stopped them. We kept Parsons and Theodore under control”, said Thomas Paech. “We had so many opportunities and missed open shots”, added Jordan Theodore. Alba Berlin shot 41% from the field and 19% from the parking lot and had 30 rebounds and 15 turnovers while the Frankfurt Skyliners shot 40% from the field and 25% from the parking lot and had 26 rebounds and 19 turnovers.

Matt Thomas at the FT line

In the fourth quarter Alba Berlin did a super job managing the lead and never let Frankfurt get closer than 8 points. Rapique and Muenkat traded baskets to begin, but Alba Berlin still led 59-51. After Schneider made a catch and pop shot, Malik Parsons finally made his first field goal at the 6,13 minute mark, but Frankfurt still trailed 61-53. This could have been a golden moment for Parsons to keep producing, but it just wasn´t to be. It was a just one of those days where nothing worked for him. Thomas then hit another clutch trey as did Schneider as Alba Berlin extended their lead to 68-56. Time was winding down as Frankfurt realized that they weren´t going to win this game. Wetzell made a floater down the stretch and Schneider a lay in while Coplin made a 15 footer and Muenkat a lay in, but Frankfurt trailed 72-60. Hermannsson then put an exclamation point on the victory with Alba Berlin´s 7th three pointer of the game and the win. “We stuck to our game plan tonight. We played great 1-1 defense, but also great team defense forcing them to 26 turnovers. Matt Thomas was the only good offensive player for us. He made the difference. He isn´t only important as a shooter, but also as a leader”, warned Thomas Paech. “It was my fault. I have to play better. I have to score more and get more assists”, warned Jordan Theodore. Alba Berlin was led by Matt Thomas with 28 points while the Frankfurt Skyliners were led by Einaras Tubutis with 14 points while Jordan Theodore had 13 points and 8 assists. Alba Berlin shot 39% from the field and 23% from outside and had 39 rebounds and 18 turnovers while the Frankfurt Skyliners shot 39% from the field and 20% from outside and had 37 rebounds and 26 turnovers.