In a disheartening debut to the new season, Alba Berlin faced a formidable setback, losing to the Towers Hamburg in a 97-80 defeat that echoed through the arena like a thunderclap. This wasn’t the season opener Alba had hoped for; it felt like stepping onto a dance floor and stepping on every toe. From the outset, the Berliners grappled with a stubborn deficit, revealing cracks in their game that the summer’s transfers and injuries had failed to mend. The match got underway in the vibrant confines of Inselpark Arena, where new roster additions William McDowell-White and Trevion Williams took the court, filling the voids left by the departures of Johannes Thiemann and Sterling Brown. Yet, as they donned their new jerseys, they felt the weight of the absence of five injured players: Gabriele Procida, Malte Delow, Matt Thomas, Tim Schneider, and Ziga Samar. It was a daunting challenge, one that seemed to loom over them like a dark cloud. In those initial moments, the chaos of the game was palpable. Alba’s players looked like a beloved but disorganized orchestra, struggling to find their tempo, committing a staggering six turnovers in the first quarter alone. Defensively, they resembled a ship set adrift— unsteady and exposed, allowing Hamburg to carve out a solid ten-point lead within the first five minutes. But in true sports fashion, the tide began to turn. The Albatrosses found a flicker of resilience in the second quarter, ignited by back-to-back three-pointers from Elias Rapieque and Louis Olinde that sent hope rippling through the air. For a moment, it felt as if they had taken flight, even briefly claiming a lead at 31-30. Unfortunately, their defensive struggles persisted, like an anchor pulling them back down, and Hamburg maintained its grip as they headed to the locker rooms with a slender lead. As the teams emerged for the second half, a familiar theme unfolded: Hamburg once again seized the initiative with a lightness that seemed to elude the Berlin squad. Each time Alba crawled back into contention, the hosts responded with calculated strikes, stretching the lead with a flurry of well-executed shots. Then, a spark emerged! Jonas Mattisseck, bursting off the bench, ignited the court with tenacity, hitting every shot and pressuring opponents with invigorating defense. His energy was infectious, helping to draw them closer to Hamburg’s score—70-69— as the final quarter loomed large. But just as the thrill of competition soared, Berlin encountered yet another crushing collapse. The Towers unleashed a swift 9-0 run, exposing the Albatrosses’ disarray like an open wound. Martin Hermannsson, typically the heart of the team, faltered under the pressure, while McDowell-White seemed a ghost on the court, attempting only one shot throughout the game. The mounting frustrations reappeared in the form of turnovers, marking a dismal total of 20 as they unraveled, watching the game slip through their fingers like sand. Ultimately, fueled by their prolific playmaker Brae Ivey, who tallied a staggering 22 points, Hamburg parlayed their dominance into a comfortable victory. As the final buzzer echoed through the arena, the stark reality of a false start weighed heavily on Alba Berlin—a stark reminder that in the world of sports, the path ahead is often as unpredictable as the plays themselves.
Original Source: www.tagesschau.de
