Belgrade Sports Coup
There are 1.1 seconds left to play before Bayern turn the game around
As of: 1:51 p.m. | Reading time: 2 minutes
Sylvain Francisco gave FC Bayern victory in Belgrade with a three-pointer shortly before the end
Quelle: picture alliance/Christina Pahnke/sampics
The FC Bayern basketball players achieved an important success in the Euroleague in front of more than 20,000 fans at Partizan Belgrade. A throw from distance shortly before the end ensures the victory, which could be emotionally and morally important for the Munich team.
A splendid long-distance throw in Belgrade just moments before the final siren should herald the comeback in the Euroleague for FC Bayern’s basketball players. Munich’s top scorer Sylvain Francisco silenced not only Partizan Belgrade’s notoriously emotional fans with a three-pointer 1.1 seconds before the end on Thursday evening. With the 79:78 (41:45) win, Bayern kept their sights on the knockout phase in Europe’s premier class and can go into a longer Euroleague break with more optimism.
“This was a very important win for us, especially after the most recent Euroleague game that we lost at home,” said veteran Serge Ibaka. “Winning here is a big thing for us.” In the table, the Bundesliga club is still two wins away from tenth place, which entitles them to take part in the playoff qualification.
The victory in front of more than 20,000 Serbian fans in Belgrade could be particularly important emotionally and morally for Bayern. Coach Pablo Laso’s team had already lost a few duels this season due to late phases of weakness, but this time the Munich team made up a temporary ten-point deficit – and that in the notoriously difficult atmosphere of Belgrade’s Stark Arena.
“Solid and smart” – Bayern coach praises the defense
The home side were ahead by two points until the penultimate second of the game, when Francisco sank a step-back three-pointer over Partizan’s 2.13-meter center Frank Kaminsky after an impressive dribble. And Bayern’s luck didn’t desert them when, in the very last action of the game, Belgrade’s top scorer Kevin Punter failed with a long-range throw. The ball bounced onto the ring three times but didn’t fall in.
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Coach Laso never left a broad grin on his face after the happy ending. He praised the “solid and smart” defense in the finish and said: “Sylvain’s last throw was difficult to defend – it’s the players who decide games. I am very happy about this victory. We will fight for our position in the table until the end.”