Munich, March 8 – FC Bayern Basketball’s second team suffered a 77:82 (44:42) defeat in the ProB derby against Oberhaching yesterday. The match, relocated to Stadtbergen, saw the young Bayern talents deliver a largely impressive performance. However, a significant drop in form at the start of the final quarter allowed their opponents, now level on points, to pull ahead. The Bayern team also struggled from the free-throw line, converting only 42% of their attempts (missing eleven free throws).
Weak Final Quarter Proves Costly for Bayern II
The loss means FCBB II drops to eighth place in the league standings with a record of 11:11, intensifying the race for playoff spots. Despite leading by nine points at one stage, the team failed to maintain their advantage.
Game Progression: From Lead to Defeat
From the outset, Bayern faced intense pressure from the visiting Oberhaching team. Oberhaching started strong, hitting high-percentage shots and establishing an 18:10 lead after seven minutes. However, the Munich team found their rhythm after the first quarter break, leveling the score. A three-pointer from Gob Gabriel in the corner secured a narrow 44:42 lead at halftime.
After the break, Bayern initially extended their lead. With increased aggression in offense, their advantage grew to nine points (58:49) midway through the third quarter. Subsequently, however, Munich’s scoring faltered, while Oberhaching continued to make difficult shots. In the following seven minutes, FCBB II managed to score only two points, allowing Oberhaching to take a 60:63 lead by the end of the third quarter. With approximately five minutes left on the clock, Bayern launched a comeback attempt but could not decisively close the gap.
Player Performances and Coach’s Comments
Niko Jerkic was the top scorer for Bayern with 17 points, also contributing 4 assists. Namik Muratovic made his comeback in the ProB after a long injury layoff, scoring 2 points. Other notable contributions came from Vossenberg (8 points), Yiamu (8 points, 7 rebounds), Susic (8 points), Gabriel (9 points), Kodjoe (9 points), Kjartansson (9 points), and Calamita (5 points, 8 rebounds).
Coach Luca Palumbo commented on the game: “It was a game of runs. In the first half, we had a solid influence on the game and were able to use many players in rotation. It developed into a tactical game, and we had control – until Oberhaching had a run between the third and fourth quarters, also due to simple turnovers from us.”
Upcoming Matches and Playoff Implications
Two main round games remain in the ProB for FCBB II: against direct competitor SV Fellbach Flashers (12:9) on Saturday, March 21, at 3:00 PM (in Stadtbergen), and against TV Langen (8:13) on Saturday, March 28, at 7:30 PM. These matches will be crucial for Bayern’s playoff aspirations.
The team’s current standing at eighth place means every remaining game holds significant importance for securing a spot in the postseason. The coaching staff and players will need to address the issues of free-throw accuracy and maintaining consistent performance throughout all four quarters to achieve their playoff goals.
