Two more games – then the Chemnitz basketball players could celebrate the greatest success in their history. The Niners will face Bahcesehir Koleji from Istanbul in the European Cup final. We show the game live.
The Niners Chemnitz have been playing in the Basketball Bundesliga for less than four years. But the Saxons are already reaching for their first European title. The Niners will play in the final of the Europe Cup on Wednesday (April 17, 2024, 7 p.m. in Live stream and ticker in the SpiO app and on sport-im-osten.de) in Chemnitz and a week later in Turkey for the crown of the second most important European basketball cup. The Chemnitz team’s opponent is Bahcesehir Koleji from Istanbul.
Live ticker and statistics: Niners Chemnitz – Bahçeşehir Koleji Arrow right FIBA Europe Cup: The results at a glance Arrow right
Yebo: “Can’t wait”
“We can hardly wait to finally play in front of a full house,” says Niners center Kevin Yebo, looking forward to the game in front of 5,000 fans in the sold-out Chemnitz Hall. Power forward and captain Jonas Richter also feels some anticipation: “You then feel the energy, everyone is up for it, we are up for it, the fans are up for it. We want to take this positive energy with us.”
Judge: “Our speed is our advantage”
Bahcesehir Koleji is only twelfth in the table in the strong Turkish Super League. But the team from Istanbul shouldn’t be underestimated, promises Richter: “The team is in the final for a reason. They have a lot of good and experienced players. It will be important to play with a lot of energy.” The 26-year-old power forward already reveals something about the team’s tactics: “It’s about concentrating on what we’re good at, playing with a lot of speed. They may not be used to our style of play in the Turkish league. That’s ours Advantage.”
Statistics speak for Chemnitz
And the Niners don’t have to hide in the statistics comparison either. In almost all statistics from the Europe Cup season so far, the Saxons have better values than their final opponent from Turkey. Bahcesehier is only slightly better in terms of field goal rate (50% vs. 48%) and defensive rebounds (28 vs. 26 per game). Particularly impressive is Chemnitz’s dominance under the basket (average 41.3 points per game vs. 30.0) and in points from substitutions (37.2 vs. 24.9).
Weißenfels and Frankfurt have already won the cup
If the Niners win the cup, they would be only the third German team to win the Eruope Cup, after Mitteldeutscher BC in 2004 and Frankfurt Skyliners in 2016.
Club wants to extend contract with Pastore – “Would be a statement”
The architect of Chemnitz’s success is Niners coach Rodrigo Pastore. The Argentinian with an Italian passport has been head coach for nine years and led Chemnitz to the BBL and the European Cup final. Now the club wants to extend the contract with Pastore. Managing director Steffen Herhold told the German Press Agency: “Why not another nine years?” The coach’s contract extension – Richter would also like that: “Rodrigo is one of the key figures who have shaped the club in recent years. Without him we wouldn’t be where we are,” said Richter at the Sport im Osten microphone: “I see that as very positive. That would be a good statement.”
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Dirk Hofmeister