It was 10 years ago in Hagen when Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners had last been at a NBBL Top 4. Now it was finally time again to battle for a title, but they had a very massive steep hill to climb against the favorite Alba Berlin who were playing in their own living room. Quite a few Skyliners still had unsettled business against this club as 3 years ago they met in the JBBL final in Frankfurt and lost to them. Who could forget the intense battle between Ivan Crnjac and Ohio State guard Matthieu Grujicic who combined for 93 points. Crnjac obviously was anxious for redemption, but knew all players would have to come together as they were missing top player Jamie Edoka and Julius Messer to injury. Frankfurt went into the contest a bit as the underdog as Alba Berlin definitely had the depth and height advantage, but after 40 minutes the difference was only 3 points as Alba Berlin reached the NBBL final 80-77. For more than 3 quarters, it looked like an one sided affair as Alba Berlin was mostly leading by 20 points, but in the fourth quarter Frankfurt gave all they had leaving their heart on the floor, but a few costly mistakes at the end cost them the game. “We played a very good first half. We were still defending well in the third quarter, but Frankfurt then went on a run. They began to play zone in the fourth quarter which gave us problems. We didn´t think that we already had the game in hand when they came back. We said at half time that we would play our game until the end. A little luck also played a role for us. But we should never have let them come back like that”, stressed Alba Berlin forward Anton Kemmer (198-F-2008). Skyliner Czech guard Lukas Smazak gave all he had exploding for 39 points hitting timely three´s after three´s ending with 8, but even he couldn´t make a miracle at the end. “We were down by 20 points in the first half and it seemed like they couldn´t miss. We were missing 2 key players and it was tough having to come back without them. We all knew that we had to perform. Still despite the loss, I´m so proud of the team and Jamie Edoka and Julius Messer who supported us so much. We showed pride and how we can play under adversity”, stressed Lukas Smazak.

Max Peters at the FT line

Alba Berlin didn´t waste anytime jumping all over Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners as they sped out to a lethal 17-2 lead. Alba Berlin moved the ball around great and let it rain three´s right away as 2026 AST winner Anton Kemmer connected twice while athletic guard Matheo Hermann supplied 7 points including a trey. Alba Berlin was defending aggressively and making everything tough for Frankfurt. Frankfurt had no good looks and had problems securing rebounds. Frankfurt then went on a mini 4-0 run as Mr heart Rephael Edward made a floater and Christoph Goerdes a lay in to trail 17-6. Frankfurt was behind the 8 ball early and continued to work for the best shots that they could get, but Alba Berlin also didn´t let up on offense. Edward snuck inside for a lay in as spacing played a key role while Maxi Peters added 4 points, but Alba Berlin still led 22-12. Alba Berlin had guys coming in and out and every player delivered like 2026 AST winner Fin Borczanowski who added 4 points while Finnegan Lehniger added a thunderous dunk on transition. Frankfurt got some support late from Lukas Smazak who hit his first trey while hustle player Chris Widmer made a lay in, but Alba Berlin had the comfortable 27-17 advantage after 10 minutes. “I was a bit surprised that Alba Berlin hit so many three´s early. Even if Frankfurt lacked structure and were forcing shots, they were fighting. It was nice to watch Alba Berlin play, because you saw no ego´s. It was superb team basketball”, stated 2025 NBBL champion Dominik Dolic.

Richard Schmitt to the hole

Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners came out focused in the second quarter and right away slapped Alba Berlin with a 8-3 run as suddenly they trailed only 30-25. The Lukas Smazak show began as he noticed early on that this would be his night and he would have to take on massive responsibility. He nailed three pointers 2 and 3 and also made a lay in. He would annoy Alba Berlin all night long with his vicious shooting and menacing drive to the hoop. “Lukas really shot well today. It reminded me a bit of my game here last year”, smiled Dominik Dolic. Frankfurt also upped their defensive presence which allowed them to sparkle in the run. However one can only limit a powerful club like Alba Berlin so long as they punched back with a nasty 13-3 run and suddenly led very comfortably again at 43-28. In the run, it was the typical Alba Berlin game as they spread the love around and just executed well. They received three´s from Noah Isichei and Kemmer while also switching it around and attacking the paint getting lay in´s from speedsters Hermann and Borczanowski. A big problem with Frankfurt´s offense was that it couldn´t integrate Ivan Crnjac the way they wanted to. Crnjac went into the break shooting 1/7 and one could see by his expression that he was frustrated. “Ivan wasn´t in the game. He wasn´t getting the normal touches and that hurt”, said Dominic Dolic. Frankfurt couldn´t get on a run as Alba Berlin continued to play their game finding everyone and getting a trey from speedy Lukas Mutter while every so often getting ample support from their bigs like Nevio Bennefeld who made an offensive rebound and put back while super energizer Richard Schmitt also added 4 points as Alba Berlin led 52-33 at half time. “Frankfurt began well as Smazak gave them a push, but Alba Berlin went on a big run. Giving up offensive rebounds and having turnovers hurt Frankfurt”, commented Dominic Dolic. Alba Berlin shot 56% from the field and 43% from outside and had 21 rebounds and 7 turnovers while Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners shot 41% from the field and 36% from outside and had 15 rebounds and 9 turnovers.

Ivan Crnjac to the hoop

Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners really stepped up their defensive intensity one more notch allowing only 28 points in the second half, but couldn´t muster much offense scoring only 14 points and still trailed 64-47 after 30 minutes. Ivan Crnjac began well nailing a trey as he had 5 points at that juncture, but all in all not much more would fall for him as he ended the day with 8 poiints. Smazak continued to shoot away, but his three pointer was falling as well anymore, but he remained aggressive making free throws and an off balance shot. But Alba Berlin also executed getting 4 points from Anton Kemmer and an offensive rebound and put back from Bennefeld as Alba Berlin led 57-39. Then came one of the big plays of the game as Fin Borczanowski came from the wing and unleashed a nasty poster that had the whole arena going wild. Even Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner jumped to his feet as he was taking in the game in the Alba Berlin fan block with ex teammate Jonas Mattisek. His dunk reminded one a bit of Franz Wagner´s thunderous dunk at the 2018 NBBL final in Quackenbruck. “That dunk was extremely nice. I have a lot of respect for Fin. He took the mis match and it was a spectacular dunk. His leaping ability is amazing”, expressed Anton Kemmer. Smazak´s three continued not to fall so he tried to help his team in other ways as his defensive pressure annoyed Alba Berlin and he also added one more trey. Alba Berlin got some baskets from Schmitt and Borczanowski as their relentless attacking led to good execution. However Frankfurt closed out the third quarter strong going on a 5-0 run as big wing Maxi Peters added 4 points and Goerdes a free throw, but Alba Berlin still was in command leading by 17 points. “We didn´t score as much as the first 2 quarters, but still played well and controlled the game. They played zone which we couldn´t adjust to. They made us play more hectic. We lost a little control”, added Anton Kemmer. “We knew that we had to continue to fight back. We defended better and continued to hit shots. They missed some easy ones, but offensive rebounds hurt us as well”, stated Lukas Smazak.

Anton Kemmer at the FT line

Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners weren´t going to go home and leave Berlin without a fight. Frankfurt stuck together as a team and exploded for 30 points in the last 10 minutes. Rephael Edward put Frankfurt on the board first with a lay to trail 64-49. Alba Berlin responded with lay in´s by Anton Kemmer who continued to attack the hole as if there was no tomorrow and scored twice. However Frankfurt never lost hope, but believed in themselves giving themselves some daylight as they went on a 7-2 run as Smazak found his trey again and Widner scored twice as they trailed only 70-56. But Alba Berlin had another response as they went on a 5-0 run as their bench came up big as Yari Monninnkhoff scored a trey and a lay in to up their lead a bit more to 75-56. But then came the last gasp of Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners in their season as they shocked the whole arena displaying an incredible 21-3 run to suddenly only trail 78-77 with 58 seconds to play. In the run it was Lukas “Mr everything” Smazak who poured in 14 points on 2 three´s and made 2 steals in a row and transition baskets. Smazak showed his stellar 2 way player skills while Maxi Peters also was clutch nailing 2 three´s. There were 58 seconds to play and Alba Berlin only led 78-77. The whole area behind the Frankfurt bench were on their feet screaming like there was no tomorrow. “Smazak hit tough shots. It was tough accepting that when you defended well the whole possession and then he makes a contested shot”, said Anton Kemmer. “We hurt them with our zone and continued to hit shots. I think it made them stressful in the run, because once they were up 25 and then only 5, it effected them”, said Lukas Smazak. But the Cinderella story of Frankfurt came up short. A foul under the Frankfurt basket led to a Borczanowski free throw and 79-77 lead. A Frankfurt turnover led to a Hermann free throw for the 80-77 advantage. Frankfurt had one more possession and tried for overtime, but Smazak´s shot popped out ending the game. “Some luck played a role at the end. We had a turnover and an open look that didn´t want to fall”, stressed Lukas Smazak. “We had a little luck at the end, but defense was key”, stated Anton Kemmer. Alba Berlin was led by Anton Kemmer with 16 points. Nevio Bennefeld added 12 points and 11 rebounds and Matheo Hermann also added 12 points while Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners were led by Lukas Smazak with 39 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 steals while Maxi Peters added 15 points. Alba Berlin shot 43% from the field and 29% from the three point line and had 52 rebounds and 21 turnovers while Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners shot 39% from the field and 35% from the three point line and had 35 rebounds and 15 turnovers.