Basketball Bundesliga
Defending champion Ulm out of the playoffs – Bayern through
The dream of defending the championship has been shattered early for captain Thomas Klepeisz and ratiopharm Ulm. Photo
© Stefan Puchner/dpa
Pack formation, injuries and provocations: The basketball series between Würzburg and Ulm is in full swing. The champions are eliminated early after a thriller, while Bayern are through.
The German basketball champion Ratiopharm Ulm is in the Playoffs of the Bundesliga already in the quarterfinals and missed the title defense after a thriller.
In the last game under master coach Anton Gavel, Ulm lost narrowly 72:75 (31:36) to Würzburg Baskets. In the best-of-five series, the favorites lost 1:3.
In the semifinals, Würzburg will face top favorite FC Bayern, who also won the series against MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg 3-1 with a score of 76:69 (40:34). Carsen Edwards was the best scorer for Munich with 22 points, who confidently advanced after their opening defeat.
In front of 3,140 spectators, Würzburg had turned a three-point deficit against Ulm in the last minute. Isaiah Washington converted the decisive free throws 10.3 seconds before the end. In the absence of injured top player Otis Livingston II, who will also miss the semifinals due to a torn medial ligament, Zachary Seljaas was Würzburg’s best scorer with 19 points.
Ulm loses lead in the final quarter
Karim Jallow (15) was the most successful player for Ulm, who sensationally became champions last year after beating FC Bayern, Alba Berlin and Telekom Baskets Bonn. Before Würzburg, Alba and the Niners Chemnitz had already made it to the semifinals.
The Würzburg-Ulm series was marked by injuries, hard fouls and some verbal taunts. This time, too, things were rough. Ulm gained a lead in the final quarter, but was unable to hold on to it. After the upheaval following the championship title, championship coach Gavel is now also leaving, heading to his former club Bamberg Baskets. The former professional is expected to get the nine-time champions back on track after missing the playoffs. Ty Harrelson, who comes from Rasta Vechta, will follow in Ulm.