It could have been a historic day in German basketball and ratiopharm Ulm as they had the opportunity to win the triple with both youth titles in the JBBL (U-16) and NBBL (U-19) competitions as well as the Pro B title, but they ended the day with nothing. The JBBL team was beat by Bonn/Koln, the Pro B team lost to Essen and the NBBL team lost a tough 87-83 final to Alba Berlin who also won the girls U-19 title earlier in the day. Ratiopharm had to play pick up basketball all day long and in the end a few mistakes cost them the game. It also didn’t help their cause that they only shot 4/27 from outside and gave up an outrageous 24 offensive rebounds as Alba Berlin were crashing the boards like unfed buffalos. Ratiopharn might have had some crazy individual talent with Teo Milicic and Meissa Faye and of course also played together as a team, but Alba Berlin was simply at another level with their team focus and rebounding strength. ‘We played with much balls. Everybody trusted each other and no one left the other alone. It was a complete effort’, warned Anton Kemmer (198-F-2008). Ratiopharm Ulm had to play catch up ball for long lengths of the game and just couldn’t find a solution how to slow down Alba Berlin’s intensity and proper offensive execution. ‘We simply didn’t have enough today. Alba Berlin played harder and wanted it more than we did. We gave up way too many offensive rebounds and didn’t do a good job boxing out better.

Teo Milicic at the FT line

The first quarter was a very close affair as there were 4 lead changes and Alba Berlin had the slim 22-20 advantage after 10 minutes. Both clubs were displaying brute effort in the paint area as 2026 AST winner Felix Kiehlneker got free for 2 dunks while Nevio Bennefeld also made a thunderous stuff. He also showed his modern big man qualities hitting a trey as Alba Berlin led 9-7 in the first few minutes. Ratiopharm Ulm then founded daylight and added extra energy going on a 8-3 run to take the 15-12 lead. In the run, the club of head coach Florian Flabb got good support from Dutch big man and Arizona (NCAA) big man Endurance Aiyamenkhue with a lay in as he used a mis match, while French prospect Meissa Faye hit a jumper and top guard Teo Milicic made a lay in as he plays with so much intensity and has a special knack of finding the cracks in the zone. But Alba Berlin had no dents in their offensive execution and found ways to create good shots and got a lay in from energizer Finnegan Lehniger and a trey from Richard Schmitt for the 18-16 advantage. But ratiopharm also continued to be sharp getting another lay in from Milcic who split the defense and made a lay in to dead lock the game. But as usual Alba Berlin punched back again with a mini 4-0 run with lay in’s from Lehniger and 2025 JBBL champion Jona Drucke. Both teams were focusing more on the drive as the three pointer hadn’t fallen yet. ‘It was a very physical and intensive game from both teams. Teo Milicic did a good job carrying his team, but Ulm gave up too many offensive rebounds’, said Paderborn center Leonard Kroger.

Anton Kemmer from outside

In the second quarter Alba Berlin was able to make their move and get away from ratiopharm Ulm as their team play continued to carry them while ratiopharm drifted more towards isolation play as they trailed 47-38 at half-time. Alba Berlin raced out on a 8-2 run in the first minutes to extend their lead to 30-22. In the run, Alba Berlin let their massive depth take over as 2025 JBBL champion Philipp Holsken showed his sniper qualities dropping 2 three’s while Noah Isichei sparkled with his crazy quickness and intensity .Alba Berlin also got some extra possessions, because ratiopharm Ulm was unable to match their intensity. Alba Berlin upped their defensive pressure a bit more which led to ratiopharm Ulm losing their rhythm. Alba Berlin’s minister of defense Matheo Hermann was on the bench with 2 fouls and ratiopharm Ulm took advantage of it going on a 8-0 run as they let it rain three’s from Faye and Milo Murray while the latter also added free throws as suddenly Alba Berlin was leading only 31-30. But behind their incredible fans, Alba Berlin never had to feel scared or uncertain as their game didn’t undergo any lapses, but instead they punched back fiercely ripping their opponent with a 9-2 run to lead comfortablely again 40-32. In the run, Alba Berlin remained very aggressive and always were in attack mode receiving 3 lay in’s in a row from Schmitt, 2026 AST winner Fin Borczanowski and a tip in by Kemmer while Hermann hit a trey. Ratiopharm found their rhythm again and traded baskets with Alba Berlin as Faye made a lay in and defensive specialist Kenan Yeboah made a lay in as well, but they trailed 42-36. Alba Berlin did a better job containing Teo Milcic as he couldn’t get to spots as well as in the first quarter. Alba Berlin ended the first half strong getting another trey from Borczanowski and another lay in from Schmitt as they led by 9 points at the break. ‘Alba Berlin moved the ball really well and hit three’s well. Alba’s zone rattled Ulm and they took Milcic out of his game as they were very physical’, stated Leonard Kroger.

Kenan Yeboah with the drive

Despite a potent third quarter where Meissa Faye really carried ratiopharm ulm scoring 12 points, there wasn’t too much support from others as they still were unable to get over the hump as Alba Berlin still led, but ratiopharm Ulm was creeping slowly closer trailing only 68-63. Ratiopharm Ulm came out more aggressive and wanted to get Aiyamenkhue more involved and he responded right away with a lay in, but they still trailed 49-40. Bennefeld then hit a jumper for the 51-40 Alba Berlin advantage. However then came the time of Meissa Faye who demonstrated just how much of an offensive impact he can be when he wants to. He scored 8 points in a row including 6 free throws as Alba Berlin couldn’t stop the athletic beast. ‘He gave us an extra push. His scoring mentality is so crazy. He has so much potential’, warned Milo Murray. Alba Berlin continued to execute getting a pretty left handed lay in from Bennefeld and trey from Jona Drucke as Ulm trailed 56-48. Milcic continued to be a menace scoring on a beautiful floater as ratiopharm Ulm continued to crawl back trailing 56-50. However ratiopharm Ulm couldn’t string along consecutive stops as Alba Berlin always had an answer as Hermann scored twice on drives as Alba Berlin led 60-56. Both teams were trading baskets in the down stretch of the third quarter as Borczanowski made a step back jumper and Kemmer calm as usual hit a trey for the 65-55 lead. However Yanu Slingerland made a clutch three pointer as he finished with 8 points in 15 minutes as Ulm trailed only 65-61. Kiehlneker then added a thunderous dunk as suddenly ratiopharm Ulm trailed only 65-63. The Ulm fans behind their bench were as loud as ever, but then quieted down as Kemmer added another trey ending the third quarter as Ulm trailed by 5 points. ‘Ulm had a short rotation. We just kept playing fast and slowly ran them off the court’, added Anton Kemmer. ‘I thought that we played tough defense, but they also hit difficult shots’, stated Milo Murray.

Nevio Bennefeld with the lay in

In the fourth quarter Alba Berlin continued to control the game, but couldn’t shake ratiopharm Ulm as they stayed close until the buzzer. Alba Berlin got some crucial support from big man Lukas Klein who showed his scoring in bunches as he made a big dunk and offensive rebound and put back for the 72-67 lead, but ratiopharm ulm punched back getting consistent offensive power from Faye who unleashed another trey and Milicic made a lay in on transition. Milicic and Faye continued to carry their team as they scored twice staying in range of Alba Berlin trailing 76-71. However Alba Berlin never faltered, but stayed cool and managed their lead well. Their depth and offensive rebounds continued to be a big plus factor for them keeping the lead. Isichel kept the Alba Berlin up with a lay in while Kemmer made free throws and Bennefeld made one for the 80-75 advantage. Teo Milicic never lost that fire in his eyes as his competitiveness was as powerful as could be and he was always in communication with head coach Florian Flabb as he made a clutch lay in to keep Ulm so close at 80-77. But Alba Berlin just continued to play their game and got added production from Lehniger with an offensive rebound and put back and Kemmer hit free throws for the 83-77 lead. Time was running out in Ulm’s come back attempt. Alba Berlin was doing the little things better and their hustle enabled them to get the 50Y/50 balls as well. The game was going down to the wire and Teo Milcic was on fire. He was fouled behind the three point line and connected on 3 free throws to trail 83-80. The pressure was on, but Alba Berlin felt nothing whatsoever as they punched back with a lay in from Bennefeld. Isichel made an incredible play having his eye on the shot clock and then found his spot and made the perfect pass to Bennefeld for the lay in with 1 second on the shot clock and 85-80 lead with less than a minute to go. ‘That was a great play. Noah has great vision. He can make that pass every time and Nevio showed no nervousness on the finish’, stressed Anton Kemmer. But ratiopharm Ulm was not done yet as the efficient Slingerland responded with a clutch three pointer to cut the lead to 85-83. Bennefeld then missed two free throws and it looked like Ulm could get possession, but the rebound turned into a loose ball that landed in the hands of Anton Kemmer who finished with the put back. ‘Faye tried to take the ball and dribble, but some how forget to take the ball and I had the instinct to grab the ball and dunk it. It was pure emotion’, smiled Anton Kemmer. ‘It was a tough atmosphere. The fans were loud and their energy helped them. They also wanted it more than we did’, commented Milo Murray. Alba Berlin was led by Anton Kemmer with 16 points while Nevio Bennefeld added 14 points while ratiopharm Ulm was led by Teo Milicic with 26 points while Meissa Faye had 25 points. Alba Berlin shot 43% from the field and 29% from the three point line and had 50 rebounds and 12 turnovers while ratipharm Ulm shot 40% from the field and 15% from the three point line and had 45 rebounds and 12 turnovers.