The BMA365 Bamberg Baskets are cup winners for the seventh time, but for the first time as clear underdogs. This made those responsible all the more euphoric after the coup.
Celebrating players in the fan block, an euphoric coach Anton Gavel, who gave all the players a big hug before the medal ceremony, and a dancing managing director. Bamberg was able to celebrate again on Sunday in Munich, and rarely has such exuberance been seen as at the SAP Garden.
Bamberg is still Freak City, but no longer the powerhouse that Brose had built up over many years with European stars such as Brad Wanamaker, Nikos Zisis, Casey Jacobsen, Daniel Theis, Tibor Pleiß, and many more. Demarcus Demonia, Moritz Krimmer, Ibi Watson, and Cobe Williams were the heroes of this team, none of whom are names known beyond the region.
Bamberg players refuse to “give up” despite low budget
The joy was all the greater after Alba, the second heavyweight, was eliminated after Bayern. “I don’t even know what happened in the last four seconds,” Höhne struggled to find the words. Sensational. Don’t ask me how we did it. We just did it.”
Hamburg, defending champions MBC, Heidelberg, Bayern, Alba – Bamberg was the underdog in almost every game and still won. “These are all teams that play internationally. They’re in a league that we don’t really belong in,” said coach Anton Gavel. According to the BBL, Bamberg has the smallest personnel budget in the league – and still won the first trophy of the season.
Third time lucky for Bamberg: the Baskets made it to the TOP FOUR for the third time in a row and now have their first title in seven years. “It’s the dawn of a new era,” believes Höhne. “Sure, we’re further down the budget table now, but we’re not going to give up because of that. Instead, we’re going to stretch ourselves so that we can be real contenders. And today was confirmation of that.”
Bamberg can put the prize money to good use
The cash-strapped Bamberg team will receive €200,000 in prize money for the title, money that the Franconians can put to good use. Because it’s also clear that it will be difficult to keep all the top performers. Last year, they managed to do so early on with Ibi Watson, but he, MVP Demonia, and playmaker Williams are likely to attract interest from other teams. However, no one in Bamberg wants to look that far ahead yet. There are still 13 BBL games left to play, and direct qualification for the playoffs is still possible. Before the season, very few people would have believed that this seemingly no-name team could achieve that. “We want to make the play-ins or playoffs and we want to create a good starting position for the coming season so that we can possibly compete in an international competition,” said Höhne, setting out the goals.
But that can wait. Thanks to the international break, there is plenty of time to celebrate, and the team returned to Franconia by bus that same evening. “We have an experienced organization that has everything prepared,” Höhne said with a mischievous smile. “There will be good beer – and plenty of it.”