Pic credit: shot by frogg

Ben Uzoma (210-C-1998) is a 27 year old 210cm center that recently completed his second season with the ETB Miners Essen (Pro B) averaging 7.8ppg, Reb-5 (8.6rpg), 1.4bpg, FGP: 55.8%, FT: 63.1%. He began his basketball career with Deutzer TV (Regionalliga). He then played 2 seasons and 37 games with the ART Giants Duesseldorf (ProB) averaging 2.8ppg, 3.1rpg and 2.4ppg, 2.4rpg. He then played 2 seasons with the Iserlohn Kangaroos (ProB) averaging 3.9ppg, 2.8rpg, 1.1bpg and 4.3ppg, 3.9rpg. He spoke to germanhoops.com after winning the 2026 Pro B title.

Thanks Ben for talking to germanhoops.com. Your 2026 Pro B champion. How good does it feel? Is this your personal biggest achievement as a player?

It feels very good. We worked very hard for it, so it makes it even more enjoyable knowing how much work we put in.

Essen lost game 1 by 36 points and won game 2 by 41 points. Many are saying this is the greatest comeback in German basketball. How special do you rate this massive comeback?

I don’t know about that, but for me personally it was special. You can’t write a better story than this.

You reached the Pro B final in 2022. Did you sometime have just a little doubt about when you would finally win that first chip?

Even back in 2022, I was enjoying the moment because it’s not something that happens every day to reach the finals. Of course I wanted to win at least once, but yes, there were definitely moments of doubt.

What was the team feeling after the horrible 107-71 loss at Orange Academy? How much soul searching did the team do the days following?

I think everyone dealt with it in their own way. But at the next practice everybody was locked in and I didn’t see anyone who had given up. Personally, I just focused on the next game. Not for a single second did I think there was no chance for us to win.

How key was head coach Lars Wendt? How did he help the team most in the days leading up to game 2?

Our coaches tried to keep us motivated, but I think we were all on the same page. We had our emotional high in the series against Coburg, so maybe we weren’t fully ready for Ulm. The coaches helped wake us up again.

How quickly did the team know that game 2 would see only half of Orange Academy as all the talented youth players wouldn´t play because they were attending the NBBL Top 4 in Berlin?

Personally, I didn’t care. It’s tough for them because they had some very talented guys missing who played really well in the first game. But it wasn’t in our hands. It’s unfortunate for Ulm because they deserved it as well. Still, I’m sure they’ll be fine and win trophies in the future, even on a higher level.

Any other team could have underestimated Orange Academy. Why didn´t Essen?

As I said before, they had a lot of talent, probably some of the best young players in Germany. Nobody should have underestimated them.

What was the focus of Essen going in? I mean did you have a plan how you would come back through out a 40 minute game so you would have more than 36 points?

Yes, the focus was to apply pressure and be as aggressive as possible. In the first game we played too slow and unfocused, so we wanted to do the complete opposite. It worked.

The team began well and led 53-32 at the break. Essen was playing well offensively, but still had to do more on the defensive end. What wasn´t functioning as well so far on the defensive end through the first 20 minutes?

When you pressure that much, you also risk giving up some easy baskets and that’s what happened. But that’s part of it. In the end, it was the right decision and it worked out.

What did head coach Lars Wendt give the team for advice at half-time?

Just keep going and don’t stop. We were either going to win with this game plan or lose with it.

In the third quarter Orange Academy actually played well for the first few minutes outscoring Essen, but then came a 14-0 run by Essen which changed the game.

Basketball is a game of runs. We had momentum and used it for as long as possible.

Essen was up with 32 points with 10 minutes to play. Essen was in the drivers seat. Which player at this moment was a big motivator with words?

To be honest, there wasn’t one specific player. From the players to the coaches to the staff, everybody was hyping each other up. As I said, we were all on the same page.

Essen began with a 10-2 run to lead 86-46. Now all Essen had to do was manage the lead to the buzzer. Essen then held Orange Academy minutes without scoring. Did you want it more than Orange Academy?

I wouldn’t say that because they gave everything they had and got good looks. In the end, they just couldn’t make them.

Essen outscored Orange Academy 41-21 in the last half. Was this the best defense the team played in the season?

Yes, I would say it was definitely up there.

Essen held their 2 best scorers Joel Cwik and Namouri Omog to 8/28 shooting and 25 points. How much of a focus was the defense on slowing them down?

I think they weren’t used to us pressuring them that much. Compared to Game 1, they had a much harder time bringing the ball up the court. That also takes a lot of energy when you’re playing more than 30 minutes.

Quarshawn Lane had an incredible 28/11/10 game. Did you sense going into the game that he could have a type of game of his life?

Q was great all season. He was the MVP for a reason. Even after Game 1, I knew he was going to be ready. He performed and led us to this incredible comeback.

What was your fondest moment in the final in Essen against Orange Academy?

Probably when we got the game sealing steal and layup at the end.

Thanks Ben for the chat.