ALBA BERLIN steamrolled their way into the Finals of the easyCredit BBL Final Tournament 2020 as they blasted EWE Baskets Oldenburg 81-59 in Game 2 for a 173-122 aggregate win in the Semi-Finals.
Berlin, who are searching for their ninth German league crown and first since 2008, were never threatened in the game as Kenneth Ogbe scored a career-high 16 points to pace four players in double figures. Landry Nnoko picked up 15 points, Marcus Eriksson had 12 and Johannes Thiemann pitched in 11 points and 12 rebounds for Berlin, who are shooting for the German double after also winning the German Cup over Oldenburg earlier this season.
Oldenburg were led by Rickey Paulding with 12 points.
Thiemann scored the first points of the game for Berlin before Rasid Mahalbasic and Braydon Hobbs connected on the next four points. Berlin hit the next six points for the first mini-lead 8-4, but Paulding responded with five points and Robin Amaize put Oldenburg ahead 15-14. But it was Berlin who were leading after 10 minutes 17-15.
Eriksson hit the first three-pointer of the game for either team to make it 21-15 for Berlin’s biggest lead. Paulding hit a triple at the other end but the advantage grew to 27-20. Oldenburg got close with a trey from Braydon Hobbs and three-point plays from Filip Stanic and Paulding to pull within 32-31. Eriksson answered with a triple at the other end and Berlin was up 39-31 – and 41-34 at the break.
Berlin put the game to bed to start the third quarter with an 18-2 surge as Eriksson and Martin Hermannsson both hit from long range for a 59-36 lead plus Oldenburg star Mahalbasic having fouled out with 7:34 minutes left in the third quarter. Oldenburg were not able to threaten Berlin and trailed 65-45 after 30 minutes.
Berlin’s youngsters got a chance to shine in the fourth quarter and Lorrenz Brenneke and Malte Delow scored in an 8-1 start for a 73-46 lead. Oldenburg’s will was definitely broken without even a chance to at least win Game 2.
QUOTES: Berlin’s Johannes Thiemann: “We are happy to have won – also after the big lead from the first game. It was important that we stayed in a rhythm and played the game.”
(About Ludwigsburg): “You never look forward to Ludwigsburg. They are a team that plays unbelievably physical but still it’s nice to be able to play in the Finals.”
(How can Berlin play its game): “We have to get out and run. We have to keep their scorers under wraps. Like I said: run, hit our shots and play our game. Then we have a good chance.”
Oldenburg’s Mladen Drijencic: “First of all, we were not at the same athletic and physical level to give Berlin a fight in this tournament format. They have nine foreigners. They can rotate. For example they played without Siva today. Siva is the motor of the team. And you could see that our players were missing some energy. And they did not show what they can do.”