The Vet-Concept Gladiators Trier are living up to their heightened expectations. In their clash with champions Alba Berlin, the team from the Moselle region have made yet another statement. They led throughout the entire match. In the end, it was a clear-cut victory.
Trier started the match in fine form and pulled away from the visitors with a 10–0 run. Eli Brooks contributed five points to that run on his own. It took just under four minutes before Jordan Ford put Alba’s first points on the scoreboard.
In the second quarter, the capital side found better answers to Trier’s offence. Led by the two Americans, Ford and Angel, they managed to gradually reduce the deficit. Ford even managed to level the score (47–47) shortly before half-time, although Simon set the half-time score with an and-one.
In the second half, it was Berlin’s attack that ran out of ideas. A telling example of this: over the course of the match, they took a whopping 35 three-point shots, with a modest success rate of 31 per cent. The team led by championship-winning coach Pedro Calles also lacked fluidity in the paint (41 per cent). Match-winner EJ Onu was partly responsible for this. The centre dominated under the boards with 18 points and ten rebounds. The absence of Norris Agbakoko, who remains sidelined through injury, was evident for Alba Berlin.
Trier’s run in the third quarter sealed the victory
19 of the next 23 points scored by both teams were down to the home side. Trier’s success was down to a team effort: five players scored in double figures, and nine scored at least five points.
In the closing minutes, the result became even more decisive. Roland, Hollersbacher and Krimmer missed their final three-point attempts, and the margin had also stretched to over 20 points. Five players also scored in double figures for Berlin. Alongside Ford (15) and Angel (14/8), these were Joe Wieskamp (12), Jack Kayil (11/5 ast) and Malte Delow (11/9).
Both teams face international fixtures this week. In the Europe Cup, Trier travel to face Promitheas Patras. Alba Berlin, meanwhile, host Igokea Aleksandrovac in the BCL.