After the last shot of ex Fraport Skyliner point guard Justin Cobbs fell short in the 2016 Beko BBL cup final, the Alba Berlin players on the floor were dancing and going wild as any guys would after just winning a title, while a dejected FC Bayern Munich lot were scrambling back to the bench and in total shock after not being rewarded for their courageous 7-0 run in the last minute and a half being beaten by a Dragan Milosavljevic floater that fought its way through the tense Audi Dome air with authority. Way up in the arena stands were the faithful Alba Berlin fans seated as a big sea of yellow was present and as excited as if they had just won the first club title, even though it was the third cup victory in the last four years. While on the other side closer to the basketball floor in the first row, German ski jumping legend Sven Hannawald was taking in the atmosphere, but not letting any emotion get in the way as you wouldn´t have been able to tell if he was a real hard core basketball fan or not while about 20 feet to his right in the third row the contrast in emotion was about as opposite as the effectiveness of a Steph Curry three pointer and that of a Shaq. In the third row, one could observe legendary FC Bayern Munich team doctor Hans-Wilhelm Muller Wohlfarth watching the cup presentation like any of the other many ceremonies he has witnessed in his almost 40 years of service to Germany´s most famous sport club while FC Bayern Munich football club president Uli Hoeness was sitting two places from the doctor and had a very sullen expression on his face as if he was attending the funeral of his best friend. Even his most powerful thoughts about FC Bayern Munich football were taking the back seat momentarily to the bitter basketball loss. But that is expected considering all the dedication and work the German has done putting FC Bayern Munich basketball on the map as well as his natural love for the game and his club. Even 20 minutes after the loss, members of the FC Bayern Munich organization like youth coordinator Volker Stix were sitting dejected looking straight ahead as if they had just seen a nasty ghost as this loss will take a long while to digest. These were some of the stories that were told minutes after Alba Berlin had won their eighth cup title and 19th overall in their illustrious club history. All in all, the 2016 Beko BBL cup weekend was another great event that was sparked by exciting games, dripping water and Alex King´s smile.
Alba Berlin
The Two Jordan´s Trade Punches But Taylor´s Sits Best Shooting Alba Berlin Past The Fraport Skyliners 79-76 Into Beko BBL Cup Final
After the big 83-60 win against AEK Larnaca in Europe Cup action that upped the Fraport Skyliners record in that competition to 13-0 which was another simple day at the office where the 2004 Beko BBL champion once again had transformed head coach Gordon Herbert´s scouting report from paper on to the court with a dynamic masterful performance, two of the club´s key performers Jordan Theodore and Philip Scrubb were stretching on the sidelines. Two guys side by side while Theodore was yapping around yet still being focused on his legs while Scrubb like usual was the silent, but observant rookie taking everything in and seemingly taking mental notes about this new experience for his vast memory bank. Both guys winning journeys in their short career´s have been about as different as you can ever find comparable to a Michael Jordan who won his share of titles and Karl the mail man Malone who played 20 seasons and never won a title and came to the Los Angeles Lakers a few years too late otherwise he would have got that ring. With Theodore and Scrubb as odd as the comparison sounds is a bit similar not in how many seasons they have played, but in title talk. Theodore who is the pride and joy of Engelwood, New Jersey, didn´t win anything at Seton Hall and played his first three professional season´s on losing teams in Turkey with Antalya and Mersin and last season in France with Bourg, while Scrubb at the age of 23 already has the distinction of being the greatest Canadian college player of all time as he won 5 CIS and 3 OUA tournaments while racking up 3 player of the year titles, One MVP and one rookie of the year. This is a huge contrast in the career´s of both players, but with the combination of the winning mentality and experience of knowing how to win by Scrubb and the undying will and need to win by Theodore, the Fraport Skyliners had two very special figures entering the game against 8 time Beko BBL champion Alba Berlin ready to do their magic and help carry their team into the 2016 Beko BBL cup final in Munich, but it was Alba Berlin guard Jordan Taylor that stole the show hitting a huge shot at the end with 1,1 seconds to play propelling Alba Berlin into the 2016 Beko BBL cup final 79-76. After the loss, Scrubb was his usual emotionless self, while one could see the sadness of Theodore painting a clown´s expression after nobody laughed at his latest stunt. Theodore wanted to win badly, but will have to wait for a new chance. “Phill, I and the whole team wanted to win this game very badly. I was a little up and down in the first half. I was nervous, because this was the first meaningful game that I had been in as a professional. I was forcing too much and not letting the game come to me. In the second half, I was calmer and hit some shots. I was so hyped for this game, because I love the big stage. I feel like I have to prove myself new every game, because I always want to be the best”, stressed Jordan Theodore. After the contest, it was the two Jordan´s who were in deep conversation on the sideline as Taylor was more smiles, while Theodore at times seemed to be somewhere else in thought. Possibly that last shot will be in his mind for a long time? “I grew up playing with Jordan Theodore and all the other gaucho´s in New York. It is always nice to see a familiar face and I was just fortunate to make some shots. I was happy to find a rhythm after my long injury and hope it will carry into the next games”, stressed Wisconsin Badger Jordan Taylor. Frankfurt made a courageous come back in the second half, but their unsatisfactory second quarter got them in an early rut putting Alba Berlin in the driver´s seat. “The second quarter was hard on us. We tend to have bad stretches in games, but you can´t do that against big teams. We have to play at a high effort for 40 minutes”, warned Jordan Theodore.
Rob Lowery(Alba Berlin) My Toughness And Defense Has Allowed Me To Get To This Level
Rob Lowery is a 28 year old 188cm guard from Forestville, Maryland playing his sixth professional season and second time in Germany and first with Alba Berlin after starting the season with AE Nea Kifisia Dimoulas Athens (Greece-A). He started his basketball career with Cecil CC (NJCAA2) before finishing at Dayton(NCAA) in 2010 where he played a total of 56 NCAA games and as senior played 31 games averaging 7.3ppg, 2.2rpg, 3.5apg, FGP: 37.6%, 3PT: 37.7%, FT: 77.6%. He started his professional basketball career in 2010 with the Saar-Pfalz Braves (Germany-ProA) playing 24 games: 10.6ppg, 4.0rpg, 4.4apg, FGP: 53.0%, 3PT: 27.9%, FT: 66.7%. In the 2011-2012 season he played with Levharti Chomutov (Czech Republic-NBL) playing 36 games: Score-5(17.6ppg), 4.8rpg, 2.8apg, Steals-5(1.9spg), FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 28.6%, FT: 73.3%. In the 2012-2013 season, he played with Best Balikesir Basketbol Kulubu (Turkey-TB2L) playing 30 games: 17.3ppg, 6.5rpg, 3.9apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 47.4%, 3PT: 37.3%, FT: 77.1%. In the 2013-2014 season he played with Lighthouse Trapani (Italy-DNA Gold, starting five): 28 games: 15.1ppg, 6.1rpg, 3.2apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 57.4%, 3PT: 28.3%, FT: 68.3%. Last season he played with ASA Koroivos Amaliadas (Greece-A1) playing 8 games: 16.8ppg, 5.0rpg, 2.4apg, 2.4spg, 2FGP: 52.9%, 3FGP: 31.8%, FT: 82.0%, in Dec.’14 moved to VEF Riga (Latvia-LBL) VTB United League: 16 games: 11.8ppg, 4.2rpg, 4.1apg, Steals-3(1.8spg), FGP: 46.0%, 3PT: 46.7%, FT: 68.2%; Latvian LBL: 18 games: 9.8ppg, 3.1rpg, 3.4apg, Steals-3(1.7spg), FGP: 43.5%, 3PT: 38.3%, FT: 68.9%. He spoke to German Hoops before the 2016 Beko BBL cup semi-final against the Fraport Skyliners.
Rob thanks for talking to German Hoops. Welcome to Berlin. You are have stood the test of time. It took you 6 years to reach one of the top organizations in Europe. How blessed do you feel and can you 100% say that all your hard work has truly paid off?
It’s truly a blessing to be able to play for such an amazing coach and organization. It’s an honor! My hard work has definitely paid off but this is definitely just the beginning. I want to keep proving myself so I can’t play at the highest level!
It Is All Or Nothing For The Fraport Skyliners Going Into Semi-Final Cup Game Against Alba Berlin
Ever since the Fraport Skyliners then known as the Opel Skyliners won their last Beko BBL title in 2004, they have had a long championship dry spell as they are still searching for their third club title, but the way the 2000 cup winner is playing this season, that long drought could finally be stopped as quickly as Carolina Panther Cam Newton can escape the pocket from the right defensive end and squeeze through the line and get the first down. The Fraport Skyliners most likely will have the opportunity to win three competitions with the cup(2 games), Europe Cup(5games) and if they make a run in the playoffs a total of 9 games. But before one looks forward and dreams too much, the Fraport Skyliners get down to real title business this weekend in Munich and arrive as the hottest team riding a 13-1 hot streak that dates back to December 23, 2015 and oozing with so much self confidence that could even give Alba Berlin head coach Sasa Obradovic some jitters. Bamberg hasn´t lost in the Beko BBL in the time of the Frankfurt winning streak, but three times in Euroleague. The last loss in the Beko BBL was in Frankfurt so if the troops of Andrea Trinchieri reach the final against Frankfurt, there will be some serious revenge on the minds of a Brad Wanamaker and Darius Miller. The Fraport Skyliners will meet 9 time Beko BBL champion Alba Berlin in the second semi-final as FC Bayern Munich hosts 2015 Beko BBL champion Brose Baskets Bamberg in an afternoon affair Saturday. In the last 10 years Frankfurt have had some interesting tangles with Alba Berlin getting by them in the 2005 and 2010 semi-finals of the playoffs while bowing out to them in the 2011 semi-finals of the playoffs. The club also met in the 2009 semi-final of the cup in Hamburg and lost. For some reason, basketball fate doesn´t want to let these two teams battle in a title final yet.
Alba Berlin Halt Fraport Skyliners 13 Game Winning Streak With Wild 95-82 Victory On The Road
It has been ages since Alba Berlin captain Alex King strapped on a Frankfurt Skyliners jersey as he was a mainstay with the team from 2002-2008 achieving some big moments like winning the 2004 Beko BBL title or reaching the final in 2005 losing a tough fifth game in Bamberg or reaching the semi-finals in his last season in 2008 losing in a bitter five game series against his future team Telekom Baskets Bonn where Skyliner legend Pascal Roller was denied on the last play. The Munich native also had some bad moments like the seasons 2005-2007 where the team fell into a losing rut that had never ever been seen before in the organization under coaches Ivan Sunara and Charles Barton or having to play for Turkish head coach Murat Didin twice and getting to know his dog house on more than one occasion as it wasn´t a cake walk playing for him. In the years after, King contributed to the ongoing curse in Bonn that held on to 10 years where Frankfurt couldn´t win and also help supply wins against his ex team with the s.Oliver Baskets Wurzburg and in the last three years also left the court as the winner on more than one occasion with top club Alba Berlin. Now as it is habit each season, King returns back to the Fraport arena, but under very special circumstances as both teams are experiencing runs that for the one team has brought history to their organization while for the other just sheer surprise. Like years ago when the Fraport Skyliners were trying to end the Bonn curse, now King is trying to end this amazing winning streak of his ex team that currently stands at 13 games while Alba Berlin has a surprising 5 game losing streak that the players know need to be broken, because with every new loss the patience of Sasa Obradovic grows and grows and that so usual white tint that he displays on the side line may turn more ruddy with every new emotional explosion. The Fraport Skyliners came back home after an ugly win in Porto in Europe Cup action where they wobbled to victory after sustaining a mini hibernation in the second half, but one has to give the 2000 cup winner credit, when it counts, they instantly become a team no one wants to deal with as they suddenly execute without problems on offense and defense. It was interesting to see if Gordon Herbert could turn off this hibernation in this game and if both Frankfurt and Golden State would still be undefeated Sunday evening? On Sunday night only one team carried on with their winning streak as Golden State remained intact at 21 after a close 112-109 win over Toronto where Steph Curry poured home an electrifying 44 points while the Fraport Skyliners 13 game winning streak was halted at 13 games as they couldn´t get by Alba Berlin losing 95-82 as the game saw just about everything from untypical high scoring from the leagues top two defensive teams and an array of technical fouls and players fouled out as the scoreboard had an untypical red glare. It was a tight close game until halftime, but in the second half the Fraport Skyliners totally lost their rhythm and had an uncharacteristic unstable offense and an influx of turnovers that coast them the game even if they fought until the end cutting down the opponents lead. “We couldn´t score at all at the start of the fourth quarter. We fought until the end as our spirt never dies. However we have to be able to pull together better down the stretch. We did a good job cutting down the lead to six points, but then they increased back to ten points and more. Their guards Taylor and Cherry hit tough shots and made plays. We just didn´t played defense the way we are accustomed to”, stressed New York native Jordan Theodore. Alba Berlin came into the game with a five game losing streak and were testing the patience of head coach Sasa Obradovic, but their consistent offense in the second half and more aggressive defense helped them get the win. “ It felt good to get this win after 5 straight loses. Bouncing back here will help our self confidence. The first half saw much high scoring against the two best defensive teams which was untypical. They fought hard in the last three minutes and made it tough for us, but we stuck together and got the win”, added ex Wisconsin(NCAA) Badger Jordan Taylor.
Another Cup Title Is Always Nice But Alba Berlin Feel The Meisterschaft This Season
Even if the normal basketball fan still watches in amusement during games about what exactly Alba Berlin head coach Sasa Obradovic means with his bizarre hand gestures on the sidelines where one could at times think he has invented a new art of sign language, CEO Marco Baldi as well as the players know exactly what he is trying to communicate. Ever since the three time Euro winner as a player arrived in Berlin in 2012, the play and success of Alba Berlin has been consistent resulting in back to back cup wins and a final visit in 2014, but that ever so cherished Meisterschaft(playoff title) next one after their last in 2008 is still being chased. In a day and age where the Beko BBL is rapidly progressing in skill with the top teams FC Bayern Munich and Brose Baskets Bamberg, it gets harder and harder to win in a 5 game series as one needs more than just skill. 10 years ago, Alba Berlin probably would have won a few more titles with their talent and play the last few years. Just how good they are this season was displayed recently as they sent Germany´s most famous sports team FC Bayern Munich home feeling very embarrassed as they were man handled 90-74 as they dominated in every statistical category as revenge from their final loss two seasons ago is still very much on the minds of the organization. However a week later Alba Berlin was upset by the EWE Baskets Oldenburg 79-76 who are another team looking to add on to their 2015 cup win showing that in the Beko BBL, you always have to be focused each game. In that upset, Oldenburg guard Vaughn Duggins was the hero coming from the bench netting 17 points and four three pointers. It wouldn´t be surprising if Obradovic made notes about Duggins for a potential signing for next season or if he got a personal opinion form his ex-assistant coach Mauricio Parra who is in Oldenburg now. Despite many new players and a delayed pre-season, the team has come out of the starting gate very focused and been one of the best team in the Beko BBL. A big reason for the success of the team so early this season in that consistency was more prevalent is the unending hard work of head coach Sasa Obradovic. He has continued to develop further as a teacher and his great ability to build team chemistry and together has become an art. Just like Gordon Herbert he makes basketball fun for his players even if he can get a little louder than other coaches, his players understand his philosophy which is play physical and fast and ask questions after business has been taken care of after 40 minutes. His good mix of nationalities and as always not having an excess of Americans, but also getting the basketball IQ of the Balkan states as well as having the German chemistry of Alex King, Akeem Vargas and Niels Giffey will make this team a title contender again. Sometimes one can also wonder and dream a little about what if this happened. It will have been 5 years next summer when the Frankfurt Skyliners and Alba Berlin last met in a playoff series as Berlin took it in an exciting 5 game series. There were also very intriguing series in 2005 with Chris Williams, Tyrone Ellis and co against a Michael Wright and Jovo Stanojevic or in 2010 with a Pascal Roller, Derrick Allen or Jimmy Mckinney battling against the likes of Julius Jenkins, Immanuel Mcelroy or Derrick Byars. The way the Fraport Skyliners are playing some are asking will they ever lose again and a hot Alba Berlin team that has temporarily cooled down, wouldn´t be fitting for these two teams to duel again in the playoffs perhaps in the finals that has never happened before.
Taylor Rochestie (Maccabi Fox Tel-Aviv) I Have Always Wanted And Worked Hard To Be A Professional Player And Feel Everyday Like I Have Won The Lottery
Taylor Rochestie is a 30 year old 185cm guard from Santa Barbara, California playing his seventh professional season and first with Maccabi Fox Tel-Aviv (Israel-Winner League). He played at Tulane(NCAA) and then finished at Washington St. (NCAA) and as a senior played 33 games averaging 13.2ppg, 3.6rpg, 4.5apg, FGP: 39.2%, 3Pts: 37.9%, FT: 89.1%. He started his professional basketball career in 2009 with MEG Goettingen (Germany-1.Bundesliga) playing EuroChallenge: 16 games: 14.7ppg, 2.9rpg, 2.7apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 47.1%, 3PT: 38.9%, FT: 79.6%; German League: 38 games: Score-3(15.1ppg), 2.8rpg, 3.2apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 50.2%, 3PT: 39.5%, FT: 84.1%. In the 2010-2011 season he played for Galatasaray Cafecrown Istanbul (Turkey-TBL): Turkish League: 16 games: 7.9ppg, 3.5rpg, 3.1apg, FGP: 42.3%, 3PT: 40.5%, FT: 84.2%; EuroCup: 11 games: 6.0ppg, 3.2rpg, 2.5apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 38.3%, 3PT: 38.9%, FT: 81.8%, left in Feb.’11, later that month moved to ALBA Berlin (Germany-1.Bundesliga) playing 27 games: 8.7ppg, 2.7rpg, 3.9apg, FGP: 46.0%, 3PT: 38.1%, FT: 76.6%. In the 2011-2012 season he played for Le Mans Sarthe Basket (France-ProA) playing EuroCup: 8 games: 12.5ppg, 3.6rpg, 4.4apg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 82.4%; French League: 37 games: 16.3ppg, 3.4rpg, Assists-2(6.4apg), FGP: 56.4%, 3PT: 42.8%, FT: 89.3%. In the 2012-2013 season he played for Caja Laboral Vitoria (Spain-ACB): Euroleague: 4 games: 1.5ppg, 1.0spg; Spanish ACB: 7 games: 6.1ppg, 2.6apg, 2FGP: 52.9%, 3FGP: 54.5%, in Jan.’13 moved to Angelico Biella (Italy-SerieA) playing 16 games: 13.4ppg, 2.1rpg, 2.6apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 57.0%, 3PT: 27.9%, FT-3(92.1%).In the 2013-2014 season he played for Montepaschi Siena (Italy-SerieA): Euroleague: 10 games: 6.5ppg, 1.5rpg, 1.7apg, 2FGP: 41.0%, 3FGP: 39.1%, FT: 85.7%; Italian SerieA: 13 games: 7.1ppg, 1.6rpg, 3.0apg, 2FGP: 56.9%, 3FGP: 22.2%, FT: 94.1%, in Jan.’14 moved to BC Nizhny Novgorod (Russia-VTB): 17 games: 14.9ppg, 2.6rpg, 3.9apg, FGP: 40.9%, 3PT: 47.4%, FT: 88.7%; Eurocup: 12 games: 14.3ppg, 1.5rpg, 4.8apg, FGP: 51.3%, 3PT: 37.5%, FT: 89.7%. Last season he played for BC Nizhny Novgorod (Russia-VTB): 31 games: 14.7ppg, 3.2rpg, 5.3apg, FGP: 54.3%, 3PT: 38.8%, FT: 89.9%; Euroleague: 21 games: Score-1(18.9ppg), 1.6rpg, 5.7apg, FGP: 51.9%, 3PT: 50.0%, FT-3(92.5%). He spoke to German Hoops before the Euroleague clash in Bamberg against the Brose Baskets Bamberg.
Taylor thanks for talking to German Hoops. You are back in Bamberg playing Euroleague. What memories do you have of games against this top team when you played with BG Goettingen and Alba Berlin? I guess you wont forget the finals loss to Bamberg in 2011 so easily?
My first year in Germany is when Bamberg started to win titles. I remember how tough it was to play at their gym, and over the years it didn’t get easier. Always well coached with players that play hard, Bamberg is a tough place for any team to come in and get a win, with a large credit due to their amazing fans.
Both Bamberg and Maccabi Tel Aviv are 1-2 and this is a big game for both teams to stay in the group hunt and not slip further back. Do you believe that this game will be won on the defensive end?
Most tough games are won with big stops defensively and also the ability to score big baskets when it counts. Momentum plays a big role as well and being able to control the pace of the game, especially on the road in a great environment.
2015 Beko BBL Quarterfinal Playoff Preview: Alba Berlin-EWE Baskets Oldenburg 3-1
If there is one thing that Alba Berlin head coach Sasa Obradovic hasn´t had a lack of in his basketball career, it has been tasting different types of Champagne over the years as a player and coach as he won two league titles in the former Yugoslavia with Crvena Zvezda Beograd and Buducnost Podgorica, in Germany three cups with Rhein Energie Cologne, a Korac cup with Alba Berlin and two European championships and one World championship with Yugoslavia and as a coach he took home a league title with Rhein Energie Cologne and won the 2013 and 2014 BBL cups with Alba Berlin. Even with so many titles under his belt, the 46 Serb continues to have that drive to want more and more. A few weeks ago Alba Berlin and Obradovic were rudely dismissed by the Brose Baskets Bamberg in the cup semi´s in Oldenburg and did it again on the last game day winning in Berlin 78-72. It hasn´t been an easy last few weeks for the ex point guard who is always thinking and looking ahead as he did shortly after the cup loss to Bamberg. Instead of going back to the hotel to grab a bite to eat and do some early video of the loss, he remained in the Oldenburg arena, found a seat between various media representatives and followed the second semi final between Oldenburg and the Telekom Baskets Bonn like a diligent professor. At times it seemed like he would have enjoyed stepping in for one of the head coaches of the respective teams and given his two cents concerning the course of the game. It seemed like the basketball god from above might have given Obradovic the tip that one of these two teams might just be the next playoff opponent for the 8 time Beko BBL champion. Just how much smarter Obradovic could become from the masterful 72-70 Oldenburg win concerning how to shut down a Casper Ware from making impossible off balance shots in the lane, Rickey Paulding nailing another three pointer or annoying the beast Philipp Neumann is unknown, but one thing is for sure, Alba Berlin has only one more title to play for after being denied a third consecutive cup win and won´t be ready to go home for an early summer vacation.
Guards Brad Wanamaker and Casper Ware Power Bamberg and Oldenburg Into The 2015 Beko BBL Cup Final
FC Bayern Munich might be the most famous and well known German sports team, but when it comes to German basketball competition the biggest duel and most intense rivalry of the last 10 years belongs to the two big B´s Alba Berlin and the Brose Baskets Bamberg as they have been battling each other for titles seemingly forever, but currently the Bavarian team having the 9-4 edge, but Alba Berlin has won the last two cups. Both teams are currently also the crème de la crème in the Beko BBL as they are 1 and 2 in the standings boasting a 23-4 record and hoping for bragging rights before the playoffs start in a month. Bamberg came into the game well rested having last played last weekend while Alba Berlin were still digesting their bitter 71-64 Euroleague loss to top Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv 48 hours ago as they were denied the ticket to the quarterfinals as the experience factor played a massive role in crunch time. Both teams had battled only one time this season as 6 time Beko BBl champion Brose Baskets Bamberg destroyed Alba Berlin 98-69 as the Bavarian team shot out the light Stephen Curry style hitting 13 three pointers and displaying six players in double figures. Alba Berlin was unable to crack the Bamberg defense hitting only four three pointers and presenting splitting head aches for head coach Sasa Obradovic all night long. Even though this semi final was the top game, it started at the unconventional time of 5.00pm a time where Brad Wanamaker or Reggie Redding are usually getting ready for a light pre game snack while the other semi final of the EWE Baskets Oldenburg and Telekom Baskets Bonn was the top draw at 8:00 pm to help cater to the home crowd. Despite a small lull in the third quarter, the Brose Baskets Bamberg controlled the game for 33 minutes and easily reached the final disposing of Alba Berlin 86-65. “We played very aggressive defense, had nice ball movement and took the lead quickly. We allowed Alba Berlin to come back, but we stepped up our defense in the fourth quarter and were able to finish the game in fine fashion”, stressed Brose Baskets Bamberg forward Karsten Tadda. “We were a bit tired coming into the game and Bamberg limited our pick and roll and just didn´t let us play to our strength. We played more intensive defense in the third quarter being able to come back. We decided to stop pick and roll and just banged the ball inside to Mclean and Banic and that worked. But they came back hitting big three pointers and Dalibor Bagaric hurt us inside”, stressed Alba Berlin guard Ismet Akpinar. The Brose Baskets Bamberg were led by Brad Wanamaker with 21 points. American Ryan Thompson added 18 points. Elias Harris and Trevor Mbakwe added 12 points a piece and Janis Sterlnieks contributed 11 points. Alba Berlin were led by their big men Marko Banic and Leon Radosevic with 11 points a piece. Jonas Wolfarth-Botterman gave energy from the bench with 10 points. Bamberg had a hot shooting night shooting 53% from the field and 41% from outside while Alba Berlin shot 40% from the field and couldn´t hit the side of a barn from downtown shooting a miserable 12%. Alba Berlin did win the rebound battle 30-29, but had 13 turnovers while Bamberg had 11 turnovers.
MarQuez Haynes (Maccabi Electra Tel-Aviv) Alba Berlin Is A Tough And Scrappy Team And It Will Be A Game Of Styles And Who Can Dictate The Game Best
MarQuez Haynes is a 28 year old 191cm guard from Irving, Texas that is playing his fifth professional season and first with Maccabi Electra Tel-Aviv (Israel-Winner League). He started his basketball career in 2005 with Boston College(NCAA) where he played until 2007 playing a total of 65 NCAA games. He then moved to Texas Arlington (NCAA) in 2008 and as a senior he played 30 games ScoreNCAA-3(22.6ppg), 4.3rpg, 3.7apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 48.3%, 3PT: 40.9%, FT: 74.6%. In 2010-2011 he started his professional career with ES Chalon-Sur-Saone (France-ProA) 33 games: 14.3ppg, 2.2rpg, 3.9apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 50.3%, 3PT: 38.3%, FT: 73.1%. In the 2011-2012 season he played with C.B. Gran Canaria 2014 (Spain-ACB)): EuroCup: 8 games: 11.1ppg, 2.1rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 47.6%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 50.0%; Spanish League: 34 games: 10.9ppg, 2.2rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 47.4%, 3PT: 28.5%, FT: 79.1%. In the 2012-2013 season he played for the Artland Dragons Quakenbrueck (Germany-BBL) 33 games: 12.2ppg, 2.2rpg, 3.2apg, FGP: 52.0%, 3PT: 38.9%, FT: 73.0%; EuroCup: 6 games: 8.5ppg, 2.3rpg, 2.5apg, FGP: 51.7%, 3PT: 17.6%, FT: 75.0%. Last season he played for EA7 Emporio Armani Milano (Italy-SerieA): Euroleague: 10 games: 3.0ppg; Italian SerieA: 11 games: 4.5ppg, 1.0apg, in Dec.’13 moved to Montepaschi Siena (Italy-SerieA) 34 games: 14.6ppg, 2.1rpg, 4.2apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 44.4%, 3PT: 36.8%, FT: 80.8%, 2.7rpg, 4.7apg; Eurocup: 6 games: 12.0ppg, 1.7spg, FGP: 53.3%, 3PT: 24.2%, FT: 80.0%. He spoke to German Hoops before the Euroleague game in Berlin against Alba Berlin
Marquez welcome back to Germany. What has been your response to the shocking news today that Indiana Pacer Chris Copeland was stabbed outside a New York club. Does this make you think twice about the next time your out on the town?
I heard about that today. Something like this doesn´t make me think twice about it. Things like this always happen. You just have to be careful about your surroundings.
Last weekend there was violence in Turkey as a soccer team was shot at when they were in their bus and a few weeks ago Turkish fans caused havoc in the O2 arena in Berlin causing the game to start a hour later. What has been your experience of hardcore fans in Israel this season?
My experiences in Israel have been positive this season. Fans there are very passonite about basketball. Our fans support us very good. I haven´t experienced anything crazy this season in Israel.
German Hoops 