Bayern Munich

Jamie Edoka(Skyliners) Goes From An ICE Train Ride To The Sap Garden For His First easyCredit BBL Minutes Against FC Bayern Munich

pic credit: Steffen Eirich/Matthias Stickel

On Sunday night 17 year old Jamie Edoka (195-G-2008) was ending a successful weekend by having led the Skyliners Juniors to a massive Pro B win against the TSV Oberaching Tropics. He scored 21 points and as usual did a fantastic job as playmaker running the offense and hit big shots in many phases of the game. 48 hours later Edoka was standing on the court in Munich in the state of the art area Sap Garden and made his easyCredit BBL debut for the Frankfurt Skyliners. Playing in the BBL is the dream of so many young German players. The opportunity to do this came mainly because the Skyliners had many key players out and they had to bring reinforcements. The call to Edoka surely helped that he isn´t only a main contributor for the clubs NBBL U-19 team, but also a key player for their pro B farm team. He is a starter on the team and deserved to be given this incredible opportunity. It is definitely an experience he will never forget. “I came into the game in the 6th or 7th minute of the game. Going on the court in the Sap Garden was an indescribable feeling. I knew at that moment that I might be defending the best shooter in the world with Andi Obst or ex NBA player Carsen Edwards or young talent Ivan Kharchenkolv. To be able to witness this was unbelievable”, stressed Jamie Edoka. “I´m very proud of him and am happy that he got this opportunity. I hope he will get more opportunities like that”, said teammate Ivan Crnjac. He got many nice congratulatory messages from family and friends and after the game German national player Ivan Kharchenko congratulated him on a good game and wished him good health. “I think that this was a huge step for the youth department of the Skyliners. He totally deserved to get this opportunity with his good play in the NBBL and Pro B. I hope that there will more chances like this for talented players”, stressed teammate Maximillian Peters.

The pass first guard who enjoys watching basketball video´s of Maodo Lo actually first was informed on Monday night between 10-11 pm that he would be able to suit up against euroleague team FC Bayern Munich. “I was very overjoyed to have gotten the call informing me that I could play. I never expected it. It is always something you hope for, but getting the chance from one day to the next was like a dream come true”, expressed Jamie Edoka. The game was less than 24 hours later. Tuesday was a very wild day. He began Tuesday by going to school like any other day. He left at noon time and went hone to pack his bags for Munich. The ICE train departed Frankfurt at 1:30 and arrived around 5:30, two and a half hours before game time. What does a 17 year old kid do to pass the time on the train before the biggest moment in his basketball life? “At the start of the trip, I was doing homework, but in the last 1-2 hours, I focused on the game. I was reading our playbook which was given to me before the trip and I also watched some clips from the first game against Munich while listening to music”, stated Jamie Edoka. He didn´t go to the team hotel when he arrived in Munich, but right to the Sap Garden arena. His teammates arrived at about the same time to the arena at 6.00pm.

The Frankfurt Skyliners came to Munich missing 4 key players with guards Jordan Theodore and Trey Calvin as well as forwards Einaras Tubutis and Patrick Heckman. FC Bayern Munich was also missing some key players like Devin Booker, but overall FC Bayern Munich was the favorite on paper. But instead of steamrolling Frankfurt in the first minutes, it was actually Frankfurt that totally surprised Munich taking the rapid 12-3 lead. Did FC Bayern Munich underestimate Frankfurt and was Frankfurt playing on Adrenaline? “I don´t think that Munich underestimated us, but seemed a bit asleep at the start. We came in very focused, but they weren´t”, remembered Jamie Edoka. The turning point of the game came in the second quarter as FC Bayern Munich poured it on exploding for 28 points and showing what kind of a brutal offensive arsenal they have. At half-time the Frankfurt Skyliners trailed 42-35, but were still in striking distance. “They had lost to Vechta unexpectedly last weekend. They took us seriously. They still played with a good rotation. I think the players got some fire from their coach. It is only a matter of time when guys like Edwards and Obst begin hitting shots”, said Jamie Edoka. FC Bayern Munich went into the second half with some momentum and then shifted up a few gears and totally stifled the Skyliners holding them too only 21 points. “You noticed in the second half that we were missing key players and that is tough to compensate when you play a top team like Munich. I think we were trying to save our strength for the BBL Cup weekend. We didn´t give them the game. We fought until the end”, warned Jamie Edoka.

Edoka who lists ex Skyliner Alvin Onyia as his mentor the last few years was extremely nervous before checking in, but that is expected when you turned 17 only a few weeks ago. He was very fortunate to have his Pro B coach Sepher Tarrah on the sidelines who functions as an assistant coach for the easyCredit BBL team. Tarrah helped him lessen some of the jitters that were swirling in his head. “It was very important that Sepher was there. The most important thing he told me was that at the end of the day it is all the same. It is just basketball. The only difference is that it is a higher level. These words really helped against my nervousness. He was helping me the whole game with constructive feedback”, commented Jamie Edoka. He has practiced with the BBL team in the past and already knew the guys and also got advice from them to also help him with the big challenge. How difficult was it getting used to the BBL level? “It was like worlds apart. Coming from the NBBL, it was so so different for me. It is so much quicker the play than what I was used to. I honestly didn´t get used to it. I just wanted to survive. I was trying to understand what was happening”, stressed Jamie Edoka. A massive moment for him was guarding 2 so talented players with ex NBA guys Carsen Edwards and Shabazz Napier. “I didn´t think that Edwards would be so small. To see how he moves and how he is able to create his own shot was unbelievable. I had never seen something like that before. I did notice that Napier has gotten older, but he still uncorked something like 3 behind the back passes and no look passes. He also was able to find teammates so quickly. That is something that I won´t forget so quickly”, warned Jamie Edoka. He played 24 minutes going 0/3, but had 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal. He definitely knows what he has to do to keep playing at the BBL level. “I need to get that game IQ, work on my ball handing and shot. I just have to keep working hard. I want to play at this level”, stressed Jamie Edoka. So what was his favorite own play of the game? “My assist to Lorenz Breneke on the pick and roll. That was the first time in the game where I read the defense well”, stated Jamie Edoka. Ex Skyliner Isaac Bonga was in attendance as he was on a little break from Partizan Belgrade. Bonga like Edoka also began in the Skyliners organization going the route of NBBL-Pro B-BBL-NBA. The only difference was that Bonga was hyped already at this age and Edoka not. “I didn´t know that he was at the game. I found out after the game. It is a good feeling to know that he also played with the Skyliners in young years. It motivates me that a great career is possible”, stressed Jamie Edoka.

The Dolic And Volf Guard Show Power FC Bayern Munich Past Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners 84-72

One of the big showdowns for any club in German football or basketball or even other sports is playing FC Bayern Munich. It´s no different at the youth U-19 level. Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners met Munich for the first time this season, but for one Skyliner, he hadn´t already played against many today, but had been teammates with many only a week ago. Recently universal genius Ivan Crnjac had the big honor to suit up with FC Bayern Munich during the 2025 Adidas Next Generation tournament. But on this time Crnjac was an opponent again. Frankfurt came in sporting a 8-1 record while FC Bayern Munich came in with a 5-2 record. Despite Munich´s record, they have an unbelievable strong and deep roster that will challenge all team´s the rest of the way and possibly continuing in the top 4 in May. Frankfurt isn´t too shabby either and last weekend won on the road in Ludwigsburg without their big 3 of Crnjac, Edoka and Omog. On a mild Sunday afternoon FC Bayern Munich rolled into the BCM gym and showed a strong and consistent game for 40 minutes forcing Frankfurt to play catch up basketball all afternoon long. Frankfurt was unable to get over the hump as they got a bit fatigued in the fourth quarter. FC Bayern Munich was led by the lethal guard duo of Dominik Dolic (190-SG-2006) and Ivan Volf who combined for 29 points and added big shots in the fourth quarter for the victory. ”In the end we found a way to fight through it. We gave up too many easy baskets 1-1 in the first half. We changed our game plan in the second half. We switched a lot to close the zone. We got steals and got out on transition”, stressed FC Bayern Munich guard Dominic Dollic. The Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners fought hard, but just couldn´t get over the hump. The guard duo of Dolic and Volf were simiply too much for them, “I felt like this game was at eye level of the 2 top teams in the division. They both know each other and have played together for years and know exactly what their doing. I think we were a bit tired in the fourth quarter. When Ivan Crnjac went down, everyone was shocked. Munich got too many easy rebounds and offensive rebounds. I think the load was too much on the shoulders of Edoka and Crnjac”, stressed Skyliners Juniors head coach Sepehr Tarrah.

Jamie Edoka at the FT line

In the first quarter FC Bayern Munich found to their game rapidly and took the commanding league and Frankfurt had to already get used to playing catch up basketball early. FC Bayern Munich led quickly 12-4 and showcased beautiful inside out basketball and surprisingly only 2 points were scored by the duo of Dolic and Volf as Dolic made a nifty lefthanded lay in. Desmond Yiamu scored 5 points including a trey and Greek guard Nikolas Sermpezis who averaged 20,0ppg at the recent ADNE also added 5 points as he also dropped a three pointer. Munich was playing aggressive on ball defense and also getting quickly out on transition while Frankfurt hadn´t found a rhythm. Frankfurt then finally found their rhythm as the big 3 of Crnjac, Edoka and Omog scored, but Frankfurt still trailed 20-13. Frankfurt couldn´t get consistent stops as their guard play executed and they also had problems with 213cm big man Killian Dueck who was a mismatch everytime he touched the ball. He also scored twice and was pulling down offensive rebounds at ease. Frankfurt weren´t able to spread the offensive love around as much as FC Bayern Munich as they only had Edoka who added 9 points and Crnjac 4 points. Edoka is about as unstoppable as you can get at the NBBL level. Every drive seemingly is either a lay in or he draws a foul. Down the stretch of the first quarter Jamie Edoka tested his 6,7% three point shooting and dropped one and also made free throws. Serbian Andrijia Sussic and Dolic added lay ins with their lethal speed as FC Bayern Munich led 25-18 after 10 minutes. “Frankfurt didn´t play particular good defense, They had little defensive intensity and had problems with pick and roll, close outs and rotations. Edoka did a good job getting to the rim”, stated former Skyliner Junior Drago Crnjac. FC Bayern Munich shot 53% from the field and 50% from outside and had 9 rebounds and 3 turnovers while Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners shot 47% from the field and 50% from outside and had 7 rebounds and 5 turnovers.

Dominik Dolic with the drive

In the second quarter Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners fought back, but were unable to get the lead as they trailed by 1 point at half-time. Frankfurt went on a 8-3 run taking advantage of 2 Munich turnovers to cut the guests lead to 30-28. The universal genius Ivan Crnjac added 2 three pointers while big man Lukas Brendal made a lay in. Frankfurt upped their defensive intensity and were more aggressive on the glass while Munich had up and down phases in their game. Ivan Crnjac got going in the run showing lethal production as usual. “It was strange that Ivan had so much freedom. There wasn´t really anyone assigned to him. But I did notice that Dolic was put on him at the end of the second quarter”, commented Dragon Crnjac. Whenever Frankfurt threatened, Munich always had an answer. It was either the great shooing guards or Killian Dueck. This time it was Dueck scoring back to back buckets including an offensive rebound and put back where Frankfurt trailed 38-34. Frankfurt put on the pressure in the last minutes closing out the quarter with an efficient 10-5 run to trail 39-38 at the break. In the Frankfurt run, it was 17 year old Jamie Edoka who took charge as he was a one man wrecking crew scoring 8 points. He continued to attack the paint area and executed. He always found ways to score or either draw fouls. Maximillain Petters also made a lay in as Crnjac made a beautiful touch pass. Munich got some good support from the bench from Isayah Marcin who made a lay in. Frankfurt´s defense was a lot stronger in the last minutes as Crnjac and Peters both made huge blocks. “You see really how good both of them work together. Ivan told me once that Peters is his best friend on the court. They have a really good connection on the court. Both are big wings that like to shoot, but also attack the close out”, stated Drago Crnjac. FC Bayern Munich shot 38% from the field and 28% from the three point line and had 19 rebounds and 7 turnovers while Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners shot 45% from the field and from the three point line and had 21 rebounds and 12 turnovers. “Even Frankfurt had problems with the Munich press, I think they were strong in the half court and moved the ball well”, stated Drago Crnjac.

Ivan Crnjac to the rim

In the third quarter FC Bayern Munich had their best scoring quarter as they erupted for 27 points and led by 8 points after 3 quarters. The lethal guard duo did their magic nailing back to back three´s to extend Munich´s lead to 45-38. Both love to have the ball in their hands and harmonize so well together. They have been playing together for many years and that shows on the court. “I know him since the U-12 and we have been playing together since the U-14. We have great chemistry because we are together 24/7. We know how to bring each other into rhythm”, explained Dominik Dolic. Both teams would have their mini runs with FC Bayern Munich keeping their head ahead. Omog scored 4 points in a row, but Munich punched back with a 4-0 run and Yiamu and Susic scored on drives and Frankfurt trailed 49-42. FC Bayern Munich had a good groove while that team play by Frankfurt had disappeared as too much 1-1 play was creeping out of the wood work. Frankfurt never gave up and had a positive phase going on a 12-6 run to trail only 55-54. In the run, Frankfurt continued to use their brilliant individual qualities as Ivan Crnjac made an offensive rebound and put back and also connected on another trey. Edoka also supplied another lay in while young German Ehiozogie Idemudia supplied great support from the bench hitting a three pointer. But as usual this was as close as Frankfurt would get as Munich would always slap back with a clutch three pointer by the guard duo of Dolic and Volf. This time it was Ivan Volf for the 58-54 advantage. This was the start of a 12-6 run for FC Bayern Munich as they got more support from Caspar Vossenberg with 4 points and Killian Dueck continued to be super efficient in the paint area with a lay in Frankfurt got to the free throw line, but missed way too many free throws and trailed 66-58 after 30 minutes. “We were good on the pick and roll defense and got some steals. We work on this twice a day with the pick and roll and zig zag. We want to be the best defense in Germany”, warned Dominik Dolic. “We had problems on defense. They got too many easy baskets. We couldn´t stop their transition. We dribbled the ball too much and had too little ball movement”, added Jamie Edoka. FC Bayern Munich shot 40% from the field and 36% from the parking lot and had 30 rebounds and 8 turnovers while Eintracht Frankfurt shot 44% from the field and 44% from the parking lot and they had 31 rebounds and 16 turnovers.

Andrijia Susic at the FT line

In the fourth quarter FC Bayern Munich closed out the game not losing their consistency. Ivan Crnjac had hurt his foot at the end of the third quarter and returned in the fourth quarter, but was no factor. Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners got on the score board first in the fourth quarter as Lukas Brendal made a lay in as he was very efficient from the field going 7/8 but had his problems from the free throw line going 1/7. Frankfurt trailed 66-60, but this was as close as they would get in the game. Both teams executed well and went on mini runs as Dueck made a lay and Dolic free throws and Omog made an acrobatic lay in and lock down defender Rephael Edward also madce a lay getting the nice pass from Crnjac as Frankfurt was down 6 again. FC Bayern Munich was able to increase it´s lead again into double figures as Dolic made a trey and lay in a nd Dueck a lay in as Frankfurt trailed 78-66. In this phase Frankfurt missed free throws again as all in all they went 13/25 form the free throw line. Th game was as good as decided as the dynamic duo of Volf and Dolic added consecutive three´s for good measure as Munich led 84-70. Brendel closed out the game with back to back lay in´s as he had his best game in the NBBL with 15 points. “Crnjac gave us big problems in the first 3 quarters. I think him hurting himself hurt them a bit. I think both teams were tired. Many of us had played Pro B the night before. We got key rebounds and were calm on offense. We were also lucky at times making our three´s”, said Dominik Dolic. “We were a bit tired. Some of us also had played Regionalliga the night before. Their bigs hurt us. We were undersized and didn´t box out well. Lukas Brendel played very well despite going against mis matches the whole game”, commented Jamie Edoka. FC Bayern Munich was led by Dominik Dolic with 18 points. Killian Dueck added 15 points and Ivan Volf added 11 points as did Andrijia Susic while Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners was led by Jamie Edoka with 20 points. Ivan Crnjac added 16 points while Lukas Brendel chipped in with 15 points. FC Bayern Munich shot 41% from the field and 38% from outside and had 39 rebounds and 13 turnovers while Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners shot 43% from the field and 33% from outside and had 41 rebounds and 21 turnovers.

Fynn Fischer(TSV Oberaching) Is Very Happy Being Able To Combine University And Basketball Now Despite Not Having Had A BBL Career

Fynn Fischer (208-PF-1999) is a 25 year old 208cm center playing his fourth season with the TSV Oberaching Tropics. He began his career with IBAM and also played with Regionalliga team MTSV Friendsfactory Schwabing. He then played 2 seasons with Wurzburg playing 3 easyCredit BBL games and also with the farm team averaging 7/3 and 9/4. He then played a season with the Nurnberg Falcons averaging 2/2. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Fynn for talking to germanhoops.com. You began your career at IBAM. If I´m not mistaken, I saw you play the first time in the 2014-2015 season in Frankfurt when you played NBBL. How has time flown by for you?

Not really. A lot has happened from age 15 to 25. They were very formative years in my life with many ups and downs.

What memories do you have of your early basketball development at IBAM. How did your game grow under Robbie Scheinberg?

I began late to play basketball. Like most young boys in Germany, I began to play soccer as a kid. I then began to play basketball in a low league. I realized I had potential. I began in the U-14 and I slipped in somehow. Coaches noticed my game. I wasn´t so small and they felt like perhaps I could become a good player. I was very motivated and in the gym a lot. Robbie helped me a lot and saw my potential. He helped me get to play with men in Schwabing. He did a lot of 1-1 training with me and was always there to help me when I asked. It is always important that youth players get experience playing with and against men. In those days, I tried to play 3 games a weekend.

How big is the competitive level between FC ´Bayern Munich and IBAM? How did you experience that in those years?

The competition level was always high. They were our rival. At that time we were at eye level with them. It was very competitive, but we understood each other well. An advantage with IBAM was that it was smaller than FC Bayern and more family orientated. I think when your in a well known organization like FC Bayern, there are more hurdles with things. Another advantage with IBAM was that I could practice with so many teams.

In the 2016-2017 season, you reached the NBBL final. What memories do you have of playing against FC Bayern Munich?

I had more positive memories playing the semi-final where we upset Alba Berlin. We beat a big name and were motivated to play FC Bayern Munich in the final. But we were also nervous. We had a great team and great group of guys, but were annoyed that we lost the final. It took us a few days to digest the loss, but then we were very proud of the season.

What memories do you have of playing against Serbian big man Marko Pecarski? He seems to have been a late bloomer but going his way playing in Turkey.

I remember us winning both games against FC Bayern Munich during the regular season. He came later in season. In the Top 4, he changed the game so much for them. He was a clever player. He made the team so much better and was a real presence inside. He made a big step ahead.

You were teammates with Oscar Da Silva. He was a great player and super intelligent. What could you soak up from his game and intelligence?

He was the leader in the team. He was always the first and last to go on the team. He was always the guy to take the big shots. He was always down to earth, then and now. He had a good relationship with all teammates and always had an open ear. He made the team better in so many ways. He didn´t always have to score a lot. He also liked to make the extra pass.

Are you surprised a guy like that didn´t reach the NBA while his brother did?

I think that he could of made it. There are so many factors involved between making it and not. Why his brother made it and he didn´t, I don´t know. I´m not a scout. I know that Oscar will go his way with FC Bayern and in the Euroleague. He also got a degree at Stanford. I don´t think that anyone needs to worry about his future.

What was your fondest memory with him?

I will always remember our time at the TOP 4 in Frankfurt. Whenever I had 1-1 training, he was there. We spent so many hours in the gym together. We always had a good time together whether it was getting noodles at the Italian place or doing school work together.

Do you still have contact to him today?

It´s sporadic. We had a good relationship then. It would make sense now to find contact since he is in Munich again.

You then moved to Wurzburg where you played 2 seasons. You only played 3 BBL games. Did you get a fair chance there?

I was happy to go there at that point in my career. Everything worked well there the first year. In the second year, I got a fever which really held me back. I would be out 2 weeks and be weak and then the doctors would clear me to play again, but then I got weak again and had to sit out some weeks. This would go on and on until Covid came. I spent a lot of time in bed that season. I never found my rhythm that season. It was a real tough situation.

Was it just bad timing? You had guys like Mike Morrison, Gabriel Olaseni and Kresimir Loncar ahead of you?

I think that it was really beneficial to have such talented and experienced players around that first season. I didn´t get so many minutes that season, but I feel like I got a chance. I played 11 minutes against Alba Berlin. I was hoping I would get more minutes that second year, but I had that sickness.

You were teammates with one of the funniest guys I know with Mike Morrison. How did you experience him in Wurzburg?

Mike was a very friendly and cool guy. He was always prepared to help me when I asked him.

You mostly played Pro B averaging 7/3 and 9/4 stats in 2 years. Covid came in the second season and stopped the season.

I think with COVID happening was the best thing that could happen for me. That gave me a chance to get healthy again. I wanted to play again so I put a lot of pressure on myself to get healthy again.

I have always liked watching Jonas Weitzel. What memories do you have of his physical game?

Jonas is a super player. He needed some time, but has taken on a great development the last years. He has found hos role in the Pro A and become a solid player. I had a good relationship with him then.

You then moved to Nurnberg averaging only 2/2. Here you had good competition with Sanders and Maier. What positives did you get out of it?

At first it was tough getting healthy again and finding my game again. I had a good role there. I was the backup to Jonathan Maier. I got good minutes at first, but then we had misfortune that everyone got COVID. We were in lock down. We lost many games and not everyone was fit. They got 2 more Americans which reduced my minutes.

Now your in your fourth season with Pro B team Oberaching. Was it tough accepting that you couldn´t have a BBL career?

I sat down with my family after my season in Nurnberg and we discussed how my career would continue. I did all I could for the BBL dream, but I had to stay realistic. I came to the conclusion it was best to come home to Munich again and go to University. I´m a family guy and need social contacts. I didn´t have them as much in Wurzburg and Nurnberg. It wasn´t my plan to change teams every season. It was logical to play with Oberaching. I had positive talks with heads coach Mario Matic. I´m just happy to still be able to play the game. I´m very happy I did this and my situation the last years. I have no regrets having made this decision and combining school and basketball.

What have you enjoyed the most about being with the Tropics?

The nicest thing is the team. For me it´s like meeting friends and playing basketball together. We train at night and play on the weekends. It is great preparing g for a game and then playing it. We are always seen as an underdog. Being able to beat a team like Cologne is so great.

The team seems to have really special guys and have great chemistry. Is a Pro B title realistic?

Many teams want to win the title. There are also strong teams in the north. We want to go as far as possible. Our goal is reaching the playoffs. Then we will see what happens.

What dreams do you still have with basketball?

My goal is to get as far as possible with Oberaching.

Who is the toughest player that you ever faced in your career that reached the NBA?

I remember playing against Isaac Bonga and my toughest opponent was Xavier Cooks when I was with Wurzburg.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

Oscar da Silver, Xavier Cooks, Jordan Hulls, Omari Knox, Jonathan Maier

Please name your NBA, Euro and German Mount Rushmore?

NBA is Lebron James. Michael Jordan, Steph Curry and Dirk Nowitzki, My Euro is Sasa Vezenkov, Mike James, Kostas Sloukas and Vassilis Spanoulis and My German is Dirk Nowitzji, Franz Wagner, Denniis Schroeder and Andi Obst

Who is your GOAT

Lebron James.

Thanks Fynn for the chat.

EasyCredit BBL Playoff Preview 2018: Alba Berlin-FC Bayern Munich 3-2

The one club Alba Berlin is looking to get back to the top of the German basketball totem pole while the other club FC Bayern Munich in a way also is. Because since arriving back to the BBL in 2011, Munich has only won two titles in that span, but now could win two titles in a season and get the club looking like a great basketball organization instead of only a good basketball organization. That would also have FC Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness content that all the effort he gave the program is finally paying off. Let´s rewind back last weekend, where Alba Berlin started their dominating quest of getting back to the top of German basketball by making an amazing sweep of the German U-16 and U-19 championships beating FC Bayern Munich and the Young Rasta Dragons. The U-16 team led by Elias Rodl, Evans Ripieque and Nolan Adenkunle breezed through the semi-final and easily disposed BBA Ludwigsburg 89-60 and then beat Fc Bayern Munich 96-82 defending their title from last season. The NBBL team of Alba Berlin had their backs to the wall in both the semi final and final, but thanks to nerves of steel, timely execution, the heart of a lion and clutch shooting from Franz Wagner, Jonas Mattissek and Badu Buck, they were able to make the double perfect for the team from the German capital. After the nerve wracking come from behind 77-68 win against the Young Rasta Dragons, Franz Wagner who is the brother of Michigan(NCAA) standout Moritz Wagner and was able to make a 180 degree turn in looks as like some of his other teammates, he traded the comb for the razor and shore off his hair and one could only have guessed he was related to the big Mo with that special twinkle in his eyes. He was a bit miffed by the question what was still missing for Alba Berlin. He then learned that all that the great organization Alba Berlin was missing now was the triple with the league title in the easyCredit BBL. After a gasp and smile, he quickly reshifted thoughts and agreed that the triple would be a nice thing. Franz´s brother Moritz may be the big news story and have the limelight at the moment, but if Alba Berlin can win their third title within weeks, then Alba Berlin will be at the top again and both Wagner brothers won´t be bored telling their great accomplishments from the past season and flashing that warm Wagner smile that has continued to grow as their habit of racking up titles continues to grow. FC Bayern Munich experienced a lot of FC Hollywood especially with the coaching change which was made so prematurely in the crunch time of the season, but with a few weeks left in the season, they are in the driver´s seat in the final and with good chances of securing that second league title since returning back to the BBL in 2011. The only thing that will hinder FC Bayern Munich from hoisting their second title of the season will be inconsistency. So it is Alba Berlin that has played the most beautiful basketball of the season against FC Bayern Munich who has the better experience and depth. Both teams looking for that true recognition and respect which only one team will get while the other will have to wait another year for redemption as it will be a battle to the finish and go 5 games. Franz Wagner as a very talented 16 year old already has sniffed BBL air this season and with the title could start that amazing Wagner summer as his brother Moritz most likely will be drafted by an NBA team in a few weeks.

picture perfect 2179

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber interviewing 2018 NBBL Top 4 MVP Franz Wagner

Alba Berlin breezed into the easyCredit final by sweeping the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg. Many were expecting a tighter series, but Alba Berlin overpowered them and the underdog just didn´t have enough gas left in their gas tanks after a very long, but successful season. Alba Berlin didn´t defend as well as they are capable of except in game two, but it was their dangerous offense that carried them into the final as they averaged 96 points in the three game series. In game one, Alba Berlin won the shoot out 102-87 as was their 28 free throws and controlling of the boards helped them get the win. Luke Sikma had his usual great game giving his two cents in every way as he scored 19 points, grabbed six boards and dished out six dimes.

(more…)

EasyCredit BBL Playoff Preview 2018: FC Bayern Munich-Brose Bamberg 3-2

A week ago the Fc Bayern Munich basketball club had woken up not in high spirits, but unnerved and distraught most likely totally ruining for some players their traditional Bavarian Sunday breakfast of Weiss Wurst and soft scrumptious pretzels as they weren´t staring at a commanding 2-1 series lead against the ambitious and annoying Fraport Skyliners, but instead were reeling on the tight rope down two games to one with their season on the line. One of the biggest easyCRedit BBL playoff upsets was possible as the #8 seed Fraport Skyliners were close and on the verge of sending the #1 seed big mighty FC Bayern Munich packing and on their way into summer vacation. The 72 hours until game four must have been extremely brutal for everyone in the FC Bayern Munich organization as no one there had expected anything but an easy series win, but not having to experience such a pest like the Fraport Skyliners making their basketball lives very excruciating. The thoughts of the players for those 72 hours must have been wandering like crazy day and night. A Danilo Barthel might have thought was I not aggressive enough or was my beard not scary enough, A Jared Cunningham might have looked back to his NBA days and wondered what tips a Lebron James had given him when he experienced tough times that he could use now in this time of need in Germany or big tough German national player Maik Zirbes remembered what it took to win 5 titles in two seasons with Crvena Zvezda Telekom Beograd as everyone knew now there was no time for screwing around any longer on the court, but it was time for big business and bring some pride and clutch wins back to Germany´s most famous sports brand. A week later FC Bayern Munich is back in the Audi Dome not with disappointed and embarrassed faces saying farewell to their faithful fans and coming up with excuses why they stunk up the house against the Fraport Skyliners, but instead are the big mighty FC Bayern Munich again and on top of the world as they are in the easyCredit BBL semi-finals having to now battle reigning champion Brose Bamberg. The question now is can FC Bayern Munich use this high and momentum and play a better and less nerve wracking series against Brose Bamberg or will they panic and let the leagues big surprise team the last two months march into the BBL final? They have pure motivation to get Munich a title even more after the football department couldn´t overcome Eintracht Frankfurt in the cup final losing 3-1.

picture perfect 2110

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber interviewing ex NBA player Jared Cunningham after the 87-83 FC Bayern Munich win in Frankfurt

A sweep is a sweep, but for anyone who didn´t see a second of the series and only read the scores and neglected to gaze at the box scores might have thought that Brose Bamberg experienced a tasty cake walk with little interference against the Telekom Baskets Bonn, but that notion is deceiving because the series was a real battle and a lot closer than what the scores indicate. The Telekom Baskets Bonn can go into summer vacation with their heads held high because they have nothing to hide. The Telekom Baskets Bonn played well, had a little misfortune here and there and gave Brose Bamberg a real run for the money. In game one, Brose Bamberg won in Freak City 87-74. The Telekom Baskets Bonn did a great job securing the rebound duel for themselves and coughing up the ball only 7 times, but their three extra possessions didn´t help them further.

(more…)

FC Bayern Munich Live Another Day Crushing The Fraport Skyliners 85-50 Forcing Game 5

picture perfect 2134

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Reggie Redding after the big 85-50 FC Bayern Munich win in game 4 in Frankfurt

Many people that don´t know Fraport Skyliners head coach Gordon Herbert will call it a miracle while people that know him better in terms of basketball mastery won´t be at all surprised what he has been able to get out of his team in the last week. 11 days ago after the disappointing 85-72 loss which for many wasn´t untypical, the Fraport Skyliners and Philipp Scrubb had a long bus ride home and had a lot of soul searching to do already noticing in that game that they had the game to compete with Germany´s most famous team. A week later the ever so reserved Mr Canada Philip Scrubb had another long bus ride home, but this time he could probably sneak in the one or other smile after hearing a Robertson and Morrison joke, because the Fraport Skyliners were up in the best of five series 2-1. Who would have thought that at the start of the series? Many thought after the game two win in Frankfurt that they would see one last home game at home and then summer vacation would begin. Instead with the help of a furious 29 point third quarter that rescued the 2004 BBL champion from 18 down, they showed extended heart and won in Munich 86-83 with the help of a gigantic Scrubb trey with 18 seconds to go and overall 13 three´s that the club dropped as a shocked FC Bayern Munch were wondering when this nightmare would end? FC Bayern Munich CEO Marko Pesic had another annoying reminder just how dangerous a Philip Scrubb is in crunch-time moments. The Fraport Skyliners returned home with an ace up their sleeve having the momentum and ready for the knock out as FC Bayern Munich now had their backs to the wall and suddenly had to play their best basketball to survive and did crushing the Fraport Skyliners 85-50 forcing a game 5 on Thursday night in Munich.

(more…)

The Fraport Skyliners Make Me Eat My Words And Did Philip Scrubb Already Pass His FC Bayern Munich Screen test?

The last weeks before the FC Bayern Munich playoff series have been at times a disgusting roller coaster ride for the Fraport Skyliners and for a Philip Scrubb he might already have completed a short season ending vacation to Paris or secretly been in Munich for a meal with Marko Pesic concerning lucrative bucks for next season and been back in Ottawa where he is in the offseason and already getting up extra shots in preparation for next season had the club lost their last regular season home to Science City Jena which they were very close to doing after a seemingly curse was erased by the basketball God as three mishaps were rewarded by defensive stops and a Shawn Huff shot saved their season. Two weeks later the Fraport Skyliners aren´t at home digesting a second non playoff season and wondering where they would be with a Jordan Theodore, but are back at their basketball home Fraport arena with seemingly help from the basketball God again as they sit in the driver´s seat having an amazing and really unbelievable 2-1 game lead against Germany´s most famous sports club FC Bayern Munich and can end their season that had very high expectations on Tuesday with a victory. But then again is this really a miracle, because over the years Gordon Herbert has time in and time out shown what he can master even when the odds look bleaker than a tornado filled Oklahoma sky and produce success. He has showed again how he can get the best out of each player at the right moments and how his pinpoint scouting can bring an experienced and so talented team like  FC Bayern Munich to unending riddles to how they can counter react when Frankfurt makes a successful adjustment. No matter how this series ends, the Fraport Skyliners should follow Science City Jena and do what they did for Bjoern Harmsen and give him a indefinite contract. He deserves it because he lives for the Fraport Skyliners even if his back would rather decline comment on the matter. Maybe Gordon Herbert is a basketball God in disguise. The last week, he surely has driven his team to go above and beyond, but can they make that last step and slam the door on this season best and most successful team FC Bayern Munich?

picture perfect 2123

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber interviewing 2018 easyCredit BBL scoring champion Philip Scrubb after droping 8 points and dishing out 8 assists

If there is anyone in Frankfurt basketball country that had the audacity to say now that they had predicted a Fraport Skyliners series win, they are most likely lying. I have been a staunch believer in the masterful work of head coach Gordon Herbert over the years, but as this series with FC Bayern Munich approached, I saw no hope in this team surviving against Jared Cunningham, Devin Booker, Danilo Barthel and co. I predicted an easy sweep by FC Bayern Munich and then corrected myself giving them possibly one win already remembering that the Fraport Skyliners had won games against FC Bayern Munich in the past and had won game 2 in their living room in the 2015 series. I just wanted to be on the safe side, but my inner thoughts were flooded with sweep, sweep, sweep for the Bavarian side. It was a normal basketball reaction from me as basketball reality was staring in my face. How could I predict a Fraport Skyliners series win after seeing Frankfurt stink up the house against Science City Jena and being crushed in Berlin as the team suffered one of it´s worst defeats in franchise history.

(more…)

Never Say Never As Mike Morrison Nails First Professional Three As The Fraport Skyliners Show Heart Outlasting FC Bayern Munich 75-69

16 hours after the Fraport Skyliners had lost game one in Munich, the team had already had their post game cool down in their training facility BCM in Frankfurt and some guys exited the gym with Quantez Robertson, Tai Webster, Jordan Sibert and Mike Morrison who were in a good mood especially the latter with the Florida native who when he saw my Boston Red Sox shirt started to marvel about the amazing game three finish by the Boston Celtics. They had won on the expertise of possible NBA coach of the year Brad Stevens as the 17 time NBA champion last second inbounds play as ex NCAA champion with Florida Al Horford created a mismatch hauled down the lob and made the difficult basket for the win. That game three started at the time where the Fraport Skyliners were journeying back to Frankfurt on the bus trying to digest the tough 85-72 loss so it was more than likely that many of the players tuned into the NBA thriller to help pass the time and help forget the 21 point effort by Vladimir Lucic. The Fraport Skyliners came out to a quick 12-3 lead and played a solid first half, but overtime couldn´t handle the overpowering Munich team as they produced less points each quarter as they watched the favorite be able to play their game and dominate the boards and ease by them with their pinpoint shooting accuracy when they needed it most. The Fraport Skyliners needed a win desperately at home to salvage some kind of leverage going back to Munich and not having their backs to the wall down 0-2. In a way the Fraport Skyliner´s situation was a bit like the Celtics, who also were the underdog against the Philadelphia 76ers. Possibly the Fraport Skyliners could remember some of that energy and excitement the Boston Club presented on that bitter Saturday night as they were coming home from the bitter loss and they could possibly take some of their spirit and create extra toughness to give the Bavarian side a game that they would never forget. The Fraport Skyliners came to play and controlled the game for 40 minutes even if FC Bayern Munich was always on their doorstep, the 2016 Fiba Europe Cup teams slammed the door on the faces of the Bavarian team countless times with big shots that denied the opponent to get over the hump winning 75-69. After the win, Mr Canada Philipp Scrubb who´s beard had gotten a bit bushier since game one reflected on the big win. “Key today wasn´t only that we had many guys hit key shots at the right time, but also got rebounds and stops at the right time. When they went on a run and we lost energy, it was our bench that really stepped up. Bonga, Sibert and Huff were huge”, stressed Fraport Skyliner guard Philipp Scrubb. FC Bayern Munich snuck out of the locker room one by one, but ex Giessen 46er and Mr game changer Braydon Hobbs gave his reflection why his team was unable to go home with a 2-0 series advantage. “We have to give Frankfurt credit. They played good defense and we lacked the needed energy. When you score only 69 points, it won´t be easy to win games”, stressed FC Bayern Munich guard Braydon Hobbs. Fraport Skyliner head coach Gordon Herbert didn´t leave the Boston Celtics subject totally untouched and gave his two cents to how a NBA coaching poll of coaches didn´t give one single vote to Brad Stevens for coach of the year. “I don´t know how that can be, but I like to take things from his coaching style”, smiled Gordon Herbert.

(more…)

EasyCredit BBL Playoff Preview 2018: FC Bayern Munich-Fraport Skyliners 3-1

March 23 2018 might not be a date that FC Bayern Munich basketball fans will remember in 10 years, but the name Scottie Wilbekin will forever be linked in their basketball history  as the guy who presented a lethal shooting clinic at the most inappropriate time blocking the team´s Eurocup run to the final. If you had just arrived in the Audi Dome on that fateful night of March 23rd and had the worst seat in the house and had forgotten your glasses, the 188cm guard who was rifling home jumpers left and right while then head coach Sasa Dordevic was scrambling to find the right defender to stop this annoying shooting rage, one may have thought that the Turkish team Darussafaka had given NBA superstar Steph Curry a one game contract. Not only does Wilbekin look a little like the Golden State NBA champion, but is also close to his size at 188cm and has a nasty habit of dropping trey´s as easily as it is for an American tourist to be holed up all evening at a typical Brauhaus Beer hall in downtown Munich. Wilbekin didn´t get the all-time Eurocup scoring record as that is held by Randy Duck of the Brighton Bears in 2003 with 49 points, but Wilbekin´s 41 points was 5th best in it´s history and in good company with guys like American Mire Chatman and NBA player Bobby Brown with 43 and 44 points. One could say Wilbekin shot Darussafaka to the Eurocup final as he scored 24 points in the first game and in all hit FC Bayern Munich for 65 points in the two game series. Wilbekin will try to win a second title in Turkey to add to his Eurocup chip, but with the Fraport Skyliners facing FC Bayern Munich in the playoffs, FC Bayern Munich Marko Pesic max be feeling some déjà vu again and wondering if his stomach will be ready to take on a possible new shooting clinic from Mr Canada Philip Scrubb. Scrubb has been a shooter his whole career and shoots the ball with authority the way Shaq dunked back in the day. He comes into the playoffs shooting 47% from outside and even when his shot doesn´t fall, it is hardly ever a bad shot, but so close that one has to wonder when the day will come when he will have a 10/10 or better performance from outside. Recently Scrubb had 25 points at the break against Bamberg and was so hot everyone was expecting 40 plus points, but the defense closed him down better in the second half and finished with 33 points. In two loses to FC Bayern Munich this season Scrubb finished with 16 and 23 points. Scrubb has the ability to match a Wilbekin 41 points game and as he has shown so often this season might have to take things into his own hands in this series when the team needs instant scoring over a long stretch. If Scrubb can have a Wilbekin like shooting clinic in this series isn´t known yet, but if he does start with a 18-20 first half scoring onslaught in game one, it could be bombs away and then it will be interesting to see if Marko Pesic starts a nonstop  finger nail chewing contest. If anything the 2018 easyCredit leading scorer Philip Scrubb will be on Pesic´s mind during and after the series win or lose as this Canadian national player will most likely be on his summer shopping list for next season.

picture perfect 2123

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber interviewing 2018 easyCredit BBL scoring champion Philip Scrubb after droping 8 points and dishing out 8 assists

Even FC Bayern Munich had some typical FC Hollywood moments this season with the peak of head coach Sasa Dordevic being dismissed after the Eurocup semi-final loss, they have been able to keep it together on the court this season as they didn´t encounter another Scottie Wilbekin type player this season as they finished in first place with a record of 31-3. They started off well with winning their first three games, but then surprisingly lost at home to Wurzburg and ex coach Dirk Bauermann. However that didn´t faze Germany´s most famous sports team as they then steam rolled the competition in the BBL and Eurocup. In the BBL, they won 20 games in a row and found a clear identity on offense just totally overpowering opponents with their scoring machine scoring 80 points or more 16 times. It also helped that they had a certain established team chemistry as they had held on to 7 players. They also did a good job bringing in the missing pieces that were able to strengthen the already very strong roster. Their powerful offense has led to nine players averaging more than 7,0ppg and their second five are often stronger than other teams´s starting five. They are very well fortified at every position and have that added athletic presence that team´s can´t match up to.

(more…)

Braydon Hobbs Plays Game Changer Saving FC Bayern Munich From 18 Points Down Defeating The Fraport Skyliners 87-83

So often in the past years when the playoffs were drawing nearer, the Fraport Skyliners

Basketball BL / FRAPORT SKYLINERS - FC BAYERN MÜNCHEN BASKETBALL WEISSENFELS

BBL Topscorer Philip Scrubb made 5 of 8 three pointers and finished the game with 23 points

would go on a few days working vacation in order to do some last minute team building for the crunch-time period of the season. This season the 2016 Fiba Europe Cup winner went to the tourist infested Mallorca to digest their current two game losing streak that left them shaking their heads after the unexplainable and unacceptable loss to arch rival Giessen 46ers and their crunch-time fall out in Bayreuth. The Fraport Skyliners entered the top game of the season against FC Bayern Munich resting in seventh place and if the playoffs started tomorrow would have been in, but had teams like Bamberg, ratiopharm Ulm, Wurzburg and Giessen breathing heavily down their backs ready to attack as the club has a very difficult rest program. FC Bayern Munich didn´t enter the Fraport arena playing their best basketball either having won two of their last four games and playing a very suspect defense giving up 89 points on average in the last two wins. Their offense has been red hot as they scored 100 points or more in the last three games. FC Bayern Munich came to Frankfurt having a 12-5 overall record and positive 5-3 record in the Fraport arena. The Fraport Skyliners had had some very stellar performances against FC Bayern Munich in their living room in the past and were looking for their fourth win at home and another step toward a playoff spot, but instead saw an 18 point lead dwindle down in the fourth quarter as American guard Braydon Hobbs came from the bench and saved his team with the right kind of playmaking and just organizing the team the right way and had an incredible mix of big shots and handing out dimes leading FC Bayern Munich to an incredible 87-83 victory. For three quarters, it was the Fraport Skyliners playing energized basketball and shooting at a high rate, but were at their limit while FC Bayern Munich played uninspired and at times helpless as if it was a pre season game and were somewhere at 40% of their abilities. That all changed in the fourth quarter as the 2018 easyCredit BBL cup champion made a furious comeback to put another dagger in the playoff hopes of Frankfurt. After the victory, ex NBA player Jared Cunningham who has been playing up and down as of late and came into the game shooting 3/23 from the parking lot in his last nine games and finished with only 4 points was thankful the team could pull out the win. “Frankfurt came out very aggressive and we couldn´t get stops which resulted in them taking the lead. We came out harder in the second half started to make big shots and big plays which helped us get the win”, stressed FC Bayern Munich guard Jared Cunningham. Mr Canada Philip Scrubb had made not only huge shots all game long, but some amazing Steph Curry type shots from seemingly somewhere from the other side of Frankfurt, but when it counted most at the end, he was rejected by Reggie Redding ending the game. After the victory, Scrubb was as always prepared to digest another tough loss in his own living room. “We played well for 35 minutes. We were good for three quarters, but weren´t together in the fourth quarter and lost control. I know this was a tough game to lose, but this game showed that we can play with the best teams in the league. We will take some confidence from this game into the next one”, warned Philip Scrubb.

 

(more…)