After having a strong October where the Frankfurt Skyliners won 7 of 8 games, they had lost their first 2 games of November against Eurocup team Turk Telekom and MBC in the easyCredit BBL. They have had a solid 3-3 campaign in the Eurocup and wanted to get the next win again, but it wouldn´t be a cake walk against new Italian Serie A team Maxima Rome. They have left a positive stamp in the Serie A so far boasting a 5-2 record while in the Eurocup were at 500 like Frankfurt with a 3-3 record. They had many incredible players on the roster including ex NBA players Aaron Holiday, Matt Ryan and Tyson Hunter. It was definitely a game where the German team had to present their A game, but didn´t as they got out slow out of the gates digging themselves into a deep hole which they couldn´t free themselves from until the final buzzer sounded. “We weren´t ready to play tonight. We put ourselves at a disadvantage early and we couldn´t come back”, stated Skyliner German Radii Caisin. Italian Serie A team on the other hand came ready to play and found a rhythm right away on offense and were able to hold consistency for the entire 40 minutes. “I think this was our best game so far this season from start to finish. We have had games this season where we began slow, but then picked it up. We shared the ball well, got stops and everybody scored. When everyone scores, then we show what we are capable of as a team”, stressed Maxima Roma guard Xavier Moon (188-G-1995, college: Morehead St.). “We didn´t play with pride. They dictated the game and we couldn´t match their intensity”, added Skyliners center Till Pape.
John Brown at the FT line
Maxima Roma came in at a disadvantage missing both ex NBA players Matt Ryan and Hunter Tyson and American Brynton Lemar, but they showed rapidly in the first 10 minutes that they were more than capable enough to light it up leading 28-14 after one quarter. The first five minutes of the first quarter was a tug of war as both teams had an offensive rhythm as there were a few lead changes. The Skyliners shared the love getting points from Pape with a trey while ex Niners Chemnitz guard Will Christmas added 4 points while ex Schwenningen forward Jacob Knauf made a dunk while ex ratiopharm Ulm guard Tommy Klepeisz made a lay in for the 11-9 advantage. The guests got early positive production from ex Indiana Pacer guard Aaron Holiday who found his spots well making two jumpers while ex Vanoli Basket Cremonia guard Giovanni Veronesi iced a trey. However then came the first big run of the game as Maxima Roma closed out the first quarter with a lethal 19-3 run to get the overwhelming 28-14 advantage. In the run, the guests were led by Moon´s precision shooting as he hit two three´s while they also mixed it up inside getting ex SIG Strasburg center Miro Bilan involved as he made an old school hook shot and dunk while ex As Monaco forward John Brown made a turn around shot and Aaron Holiday hit a trey for good measure. Frankfurt were getting good looks at times, but just couldn´t connect while on the glass they were being beat time in and time out. “It was vital getting a good start. All teams in the Eurocup are strong teams. We did a good job stopping them from getting into the paint while also getting inside well on offense”, stated Xavier Moon. Maxima Roma shot 54% from the 2 point range and 50% from outside and had 13 rebounds and 3 turnovers while the Skyliners Frankfurt shot 57% from the 2 point range and 11% from outside and had 9 rebounds and 5 turnovers.
Will Christmas from outside
The potent offense of Maxima Roma continued in the second quarter as they exploded for 36 points while allowing 27 points, but still had the commanding 64-41 lead at the break. Maxima Roma got going right away like in the first quarter escaping for a 9-2 run to extend their lead to 36-16. The Italian duo of Veronesi and Old Wild West Udine guard Mirza Alibegovic who combined for 27 points in the game hit three´s while Senegal 214cm center Gora Camara made a dunk after beating the press. Frankfurt gave up 3 turnovers in this phase and continued to have problems matching the guests physicality on the boards. Klepeisz and ex St Louis (NCAA) guard Isaiah Swope also hit three´s, but Frankfurt couldn´t make any ground as they trailed 42-22. Frankfurt then went on a 6-0 run as Pape scored and ex Syracuse (NCAA) guard Judah Mintz added 4 points to trail 42-28. Frankfurt was more aggressive attacking the rim in this run. The Skyliners continued to chip away at the Italian team´s lead getting lay in´s from their guard duo of Mintz and Swope, but couldn´t make any ground as Bilan continued to dominate in the paint adding 2 lay in´s to lead 49-33. Bilan ended with a monster 17/13 game. “We made it really easy for Bilan at times, but he also did a good job playing to his strengths”, added Radii Caisin. Knauf then drilled home a trey as the Skyliners trailed 49-36 and there seemed to be a ray of hope at the end of the tunnel. However Maxima Roma punched back right away ending the first half with a 15-5 run to lead by 23 points. The guests continued to let in rain three´s as Veronesi connected as did Italian ex Gemini Mestre (Serie A2) guard Federico Bonacini with two three´s. The guests offense was working from all levels as Bilan scored again with a pretty spin move inside while Moon added some spice from the mid range with a 20 footer. “Basketball is a game of runs. Frankfurt began to hit their shots better and we became careless with some turnovers”, commented Xavier Moon. Maxima Roma shot 59% from the two point range and 61% from the three point line and had 24 rebounds and 6 rebounds while the Skyliners Frankfurt shot 60% from the two point range and 26% from the three point range and had 12 rebounds and 9 turnovers.
Judah Mintz at the FT line
In the third quarter both teams continued to score at easy scoring 26 points apiece which didn´t help the Skyliners Frankfurt get over the hump. Frankfurt had a great start going on a 9-2 run to trail 66-50 as Till Pape led the charge with 7 points as they were more aggressive again at both ends. However that basketball is a game of runs is no secret as Maxima Roma punched back with a lethal 18-5 run to lead 84-55. In the run, the guests got back to back three´s from Alibegovic and one from Holiday while Bilan continued to be a menace inside and Brown managed a 10 footer from the wing. Holiday also added 3 free throws as his game was spot on. He always had a knack of playing at his own pace and just making the right plays. All in all, Frankfurt was always a step to slow and just the overall intensity and physicality was lacking as they couldn´t match it. Frankfurt closed out the third quarter with some hot shooting as ex NBA player Ryan Arcidiacono hit two three´s as did Pape, but they couldn´t make any ground as they trailed 90-67 after 30 minutes. “We didn´t start well. We have to be more focused. They didn´t do anything different really. We were careless with the ball again, but then found our composure again”, stated Xavier Moon. “We were stressed mentally in this quarter. It was tough trying to come back. Having a small run for a few minutes is too little”, expressed Radii Caisin. Maxima Roma shot 62% from the two point range and 56% from the parking lot and had 32 rebounds and 8 turnovers while the Skyliners Frankfurt shot 50% from the two point range and 39% from the parking lot and had 20 rebounds and 10 turnovers.
Aaron Holiday in the lane
The Skyliners Frankfurt began the fourth quarter well again with a 13-6 run to trail 96-80, but they simply couldn´t make any ground and get consecutive stops. Three´s from Klepeisz and Christmas and a slam dunk from Bedime gave some spark, but the guests continued to get support from all as Brown and Bonacini made shots. Then it was time for Maxima Roma to go on a run again as they went on a 9-4 run to lead 105-84 pretty much sealing the win with a few minutes to go. Brown continued to be an energizer bunny with his intensity and physicality always attacking the rim as he scored twice while Veronesi hit another trey as his quick release was unstoppable. Both teams would score until the end with ease as Moon connected two more times while for the Skyliners Swope added 5 more points to trail 111-89. However there was one more highlight to be played out as 19 year old Montennegro kid Andrija Dozic made his debut in Eurocup play and made a shot from the wing to end the game. He let out a big scream and his teammates celebrated with him. “He got a chance and took advantage of it. We are all happy for him. We will do something for him in terms of some sort of a shower or something”, smiled Xavier Moon. Our bench was really big today. They made big shots and played good defense”, said Xavier Moon. “We scored better in the second half, but were always a step behind on defense”, warned Radii Caisin. There was some real soul searching done in the locker room after the loss as the players had a meeting to discuss the 3 losses in a weeks time. “We have to make a change and get better. We played too lush. We were able to still win games when we played bad like in Hagen, but now we can´t do that. We have lost that flow and are undisciplined. It looked really ugly tonight. We have to get better”, warned Till Pape. Maxima Roma had 6 players score in double figures led by Xavier Moon with 19 points. Miro Bilan added 17 points and Aaron Holiday had 16 points while the Skyliners Frankfurt were led by Judah Mintz with 23 points while Till Pape added 18 points. Maxima Roma shot 66% from the two point area and 48% from outside and had 39 rebounds and 13 turnovers while the Skyliners Frankfurt shot 53% from the two point area and 36% from outside and had 29 rebounds and 17 turnovers.
