The sensational upset is complete. In the first semifinal of the Top Four, BMA365 Bamberg Baskets eliminated the host and overwhelming favorite Bayern Munich. In an intense game, the Upper Franconians prevailed 103-97 after overtime.
With one minute to go, things were not looking good for Bayern, but three-pointers from Andi Obst and Neno Dimitrijevic forced overtime. There, both teams engaged in a wild shootout with many three-pointers. Moritz Krimmer had the last word for Bamberg, while Obst missed a potential game winner. The Upper Franconians finally sealed the deal from the line.
Bayern’s top scorers were Dimitrijevic (24, 7 assists) and Vladimir Lucic (17 points), while Obst had two points before the final quarter but ended the day with 17 points. Ibi Watson (22) and Cobe Williams (22, 10 assists) were the most prolific scorers for Bamberg. Bayern started nervously with a few careless mistakes, and it took 2:30 minutes before Justus Hollatz converted a three-pointer at the buzzer. Bamberg, on the other hand, moved the ball well and took a 17-12 lead after a long-range shot by E.J. Onu. In the following 3:30 minutes, Bayern allowed only three points and took the lead for the first time at the end of the quarter thanks to free throws by Neno Dimitrijevic (21-20).
Bayern force overtime – and lose
However, the hosts failed to build on their momentum. Bamberg had major problems on the boards, but also benefited from the fact that Pesic’s team was hardly successful from outside (1/9). Only captain Vladimir Lucic provided a rare moment of success (31:27), while Obst hardly managed anything in the first half. So Bamberg was fully in the game, even though Munich was ahead 36:34 at the break. Until then, the game had been tough, but after halftime the shots finally started to fall. Lucic scored twice with fouls, Bamberg countered each time from distance and nipped any runs in the bud. Munich’s three-pointers were not a factor, and the hosts were hardly able to gain any advantage. Instead, it was Ibi Watson who put Bamberg back in the lead shortly before the end of the third quarter (53:54).
Watson followed up immediately after the quarter break with another three-pointer, followed by two jumpers from Dimitrijevic for Bayern. Munich took the lead again after three minutes with Obst’s first successful three-pointer, and shortly afterwards the national player was fouled on a three-pointer. As Bamberg’s coach Anton Gavel complained loudly about this, there was an additional technical foul and Obst netted all four attempts (68:61).
Cobe Williams took responsibility in this phase, and with three minutes remaining, the guard made it 75:72 from Bamberg’s perspective with a layup. Isiaha Mike missed two free throws, and Moritz Krimmer increased the lead with an and-1. The visitors now had everything going their way, and a step-back three-pointer by Williams felt like the decisive shot with one minute remaining, but a wild three-pointer by Obst and another by Dimitrijevic after an offensive rebound forced overtime, which was not enough for the champions.