The basketball players from Alba Berlin have struggled to avoid a second defeat in their second test match. The runners-up won against Bundesliga rivals Rostock Seawolves in Bernau thanks to a final spurt with 79:76 (42:46). The best Berlin scorers were Louis Olinde and Matteo Spagnolo with 15 points each.
In contrast to the 74:81 defeat in the first test against Veolia Towers Hamburg, coach Israel González was able to rely on key players Martin Hermannsson and Matt Thomas again. Gabriele Procida and Yanni Wetzell sat out. The long-term injured Ziga Samar was also missing.
As was the case against Hamburg, the Berliners were trailing for a long time in the duel with Rostock. It was only in the last quarter that Alba came back and took the lead for the first time. In a close final phase, the capital city team had the better nerves.
Alba will play its first competitive match in Hamburg on September 22nd. Until then, there is only one test tournament in Antalya, Turkey, to assess its position. From Thursday to Sunday, it will play against the top teams Anadolu Efes Istanbul, Zalgiris Kaunas and the host Tofas SK.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:240907-930-226104/1
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