TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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69
ALBA TAKES OVER!
GERMAN CHAMP TAKES CONTROL DOWN STRETCH IN ULM!
With an inspired team effort and fantastic sold out Sportszentrum Kuhberg crowd, ratiopharm Ulm rolled to a double digit first quarter lead and fought off the reigning Bundesliga champs for 35 minutes before ALBA Berlin took control down the stretch in their intense 85-69 road win Sunday in Ulm. The exciting game featured highlights from both teams but it was ALBA's Ansu Sesay, Julius Jenkins and Casey Jacobsen who keyed the victory in the final five minutes. ratiopharm Ulm's Sean Finn continued his outstanding play against ALBA hitting 10 of 11 shots from the floor to topscore with 20 points for Ulm. Although the excellent effort fell short against the Euroleague Berliners, ratiopharm Ulm takes many positives from the game and will work to raise their level with the experience.
Ulm center Sean Finn continued his excellent play against ALBA Berlin topscoring with 20 points on 10 of 11 shooting.
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With momentum from their Friday night home win over Giessen, Ulm could finally focus on the defending Bundesliga champs for Sunday afternoons 3pm tip off.
After upsetting ALBA Berlin in two regular season Bundesliga games and falling short in a double overtime German Cup thriller last year, ratiopharm Ulm eagerly anticipated Sunday's home game against Berlin. Ulm fans were excited too and packed Sportszentrum Kuhberg filling it beyond capacity for the top game of the weekend as Tabellenfuhrer ALBA visited third place Ulm in a game shown live on BBL.TV through www.sportdigital.tv The classic 'David v Goliath' matchup featured two teams with strong starts to the 2008-2009 season and the winner would sit atop the early season Bundesliga standings after 8 Games.
ratiopharm Ulm forward Romeo Travis hammers home a first half dunk in Sunday's game at Sportszentrum Kuhberg.
At tip off, Sportszentrum Kuhberg was filled with energy as fans saw a focused ALBA Berlin team fresh from their midweek Euroleague game against Fenerbahce Ulker in Istanbul Turkey. After gaining control of the tip, ALBA posted Immanuel McElroy who immediately shot faked Romeo Travis out of his defensive stance and burst to the bucket for a powerful layin. Ulm came up empty in their first possessions, but Sean Finn finally cracked the scoring column with a strong finish at the rim. Ulm pounded the ball inside to Finn and Jeff Gibbs while Berlin center Adam Chubb and McElroy started strong for the talented guests. Leading 17-14, ratiopharm Ulm bench sparked the games first run. Dan Fitzgerald buried a right wing three in transition and Jeff Gibbs finished an acrobatic layin against two midlane defenders. Gibbs then penetrated and dropped off a beautiful pass to a baseline cutting Romeo Travis who hammered home a powerful two hand slam that brought the Sportszentrum Kuhberg crowd to their feet! Topping off Ulm's 10-1 run to finish the first quarter, Ulm wing Sebastian Betz poked loose a steal in the closing seconds and raced the length of the court against the clock before pulling up for a fantastic buzzer beating top of the key three that sent Sportszentrum Kuhberg into near hysterics! ratiopharm Ulm's 27-14 was a tremendous team effort with intense defense and focused offense and the Ulm crowd helped push the team with their energy.
Ulm wing Sebastian Betz steps into his buzzer beating three pointer at the end of the first quarter Sunday afternoon against ALBA Berlin!
As quarter two began, the experienced and high level ALBA team found their rhythm. Asserting themselves on the defensive end, the excellent team defense of Berlin stiffened and Ulm came up empty on several possessions. ALBA opened with an 8-3 run leading to an Ulm timeout. Sean Finn continued his excellent game and Jeff Gibbs powered his way to points in the paint. Ulm maintained their lead 38-28. Former Memphis Grizzley Casey Jacobsen drilled two important three pointers, one from the right corner and one off a triple screen, helping ALBA trim Ulm's deficit. After Finn picked up his third foul in the first half, Ulm's backup center Michael Schroeder gave his team good minutes including a strong down the lane slam off a beautiful pick and roll pass from Dru Joyce. But the talented Berlin team was not phased and in the final possession of the first half, Berlin hit Steffan Hamann on a beautiful backdoor cut for a baseline layup sending the teams to the lockerroom at 40-38 for Ulm.
Ulm All Star power forward Jeff Gibbs
At the half, Ulm could feel great about their effort. The fantastic first quarter and emotional run featured excellent defense, strong rebounding and players making big shots. Production came from several players including strong minutes from the bench as foul trouble became a factor with Dru Joyce and Sean Finn. As ALBA established themselves in the game, Ulm worked to maintain their lead and both teams prepared for the second half making their adjustments in the lockerroom.
Ulm center Michael Schroeder finishes a first half pick and roll with a slam down the lane in Sunday's game against ALBA Berlin.
As the second half started, ALBA's talent began to surface. Former Golden State Warrior and Seattle Supersonic forward Ansu Sesay drilled a contested three before Rashad Wright buried his first of two important threes for Berlin. Ulm's Lee Humphrey answered with a right corner three of his own off a great post reaction pass from Jeff Gibbs. As Ulm furiously fought to hold the lead, ALBA pushed with more intensity. Finally, a crafty Julius Jenkins basket gave Berlin the lead at 46-45. Throughout the action ALBA was whistled for several traveling violations that frustrated the highly talented players. A corner travel on Jenkins and a three seconds on Alexsander Nadjfeji shortened the fuse. Moments later, Julius Jenkins was hit with a technical foul and Ulm had a terrific chance to regain the lead and stop the Berlin momentum. Moments later, after more communication from the ALBA bench over a missed shot clock reset, Berlin Head Coach Luka Pavicevic was warned from officials. As each scene added upon the next, Sportszentrum Kuhberg began to boil. As officials called Jeff Gibbs for an offensive foul posting up, the noise level in Kuhberg went through the roof! The Ulm crowd energized their team! In the final minutes of the third quarter, officials called Luka Pavicevic for a technical foul. Ulm sent Lee Humphrey to the foul line to sink two of two. The exciting third quarter showcased outstanding basketball competition as both teams fought on both ends of the floor every possession. With Ulm leading, a big left corner three from Rashad Wright gave ALBA a tight 58-57 lead after three.
Ulm forward Dan Fitzgerald eyes a technical free throw Sunday against ALBA Berlin.
In the fourth, the intense game took an unusual twist. After another traveling call against Berlin, ALBA coach Luka Pavicevic asked officials to explain the call and was promptly assessed his second technical foul. As the Sportszentrum Kuhberg went crazy, Dan Fitzgerald stepped the foul line for the two technical shots. Making one of two, Ulm held possession in the tie game. Facing the fourth quarter without their head coach, ALBA Berlin players rallied together. ALBA assistant Petar Aleksic manned the sideline and Berlin focused to raise their game in the intense Kuhberghalle. Over the first four minutes of the fourth quarter, the game was up for grabs.
In an interesting turn of events, ALBA Berlin Head Coach Luka Pavicevic was hit with two technical fouls in the second half of Sunday's game.
Ulm outscored ALBA 12-9 and held a 69-67 lead with 5 minutes remaining in the fourth. A fantastic finish seemed in store for the energized Sportszentrum Kuhberg crowd. Unfortunately, the fantastic finish would be one-sided. Like an experienced champion, ALBA Berlin's team demonstrated their ability to finish a game. Capitalizing on every opportunity within the flow of the game, Berlin stepped up and sealed the game. Julius Jenkins scored on a breakaway off a wild Ulm shot. Later, Jenkins scored on a slashing drive. But it was the former Golden State Warrior and Seattle SuperSonic power forward Ansu Sesay who went to work. Sesay caught fire scoring 14 of his 17 points down the stretch putting on an impressive scoring display. First, Sesay drilled a contested right wing three. Next, the former Ole Miss Rebel stuck a skillfull turnaround jumper on the right block. On a roll, Sesay buried a left wing three before tipping in a transition miss with active work on the offensive boards.
ratiopharm Ulm sharpshooter Lee Humphrey attacks the ALBA defense Sunday afternoon at Sportszentrum Kuhberg.
While Ansu Sesay filled it up, Ulm's offense came up empty as several shots rimmed out and three possessions ended in turnovers. As empty possessions mounted for Ulm, the high-level ALBA team recognized their opportunity to take the game --- and they made their chance count. ALBA finished the last five minutes of the game on a dominating 18-0 run to outscore ratiopharm Ulm 27-12 and earn the 85-69 win.
Jeff Gibbs and his ratiopharm Ulm teammates set the tempo for three quarters Sunday before ALBA Berlin overtook them down the stretch.
Although they came up short at the final buzzer, the outstanding Ulm effort was recognized by Sportszentrum Kuhberg crowd who were witness to a fantastic afternoon of basketball. ratiopharm Ulm's could take pride in their effort to upset ALBA Berlin and while picking up on areas for improvement for the future. The final buzzer for Sunday afternoons game capped an exciting basketball weekend in Ulm and showcased Ulm's valiant effort against ALBA Berlin playing extremely well.
ratiopharm Ulm point guard Dru Joyce works against ALBA Berlin PG Steffan Hamann in Sunday's game
Sean Finn was outstanding for Ulm converting 10 of 11 shots to topscore with 20 points 5 rebounds. All Star Jeff Gibbs added 13 points 9 rebounds while Romeo Travis and Lee Humphrey chipped in 10 points apiece. Ulm shot 46% from the floor and 14 of 20 from the foul line for a solid 70% while ALBA hit 61% from the floor and 17 of 22 free throws for 77%. While Ulm outrebounded ALBA 24-23, Berlin drilled 10 of 17 threes (58%) compared with Ulm's 5 for 17 (29%). Ansu Sesay was the scoring leader for Berlin with 17 points 6 rebounds while Adam Chubb added 13 points 4 boards and Immanuel McElroy, Julius Jenkins and Casey Jacobsen finished with 11 points apiece.
Splitting their weekend home games, ratiopharm Ulm looks ahead to their third game in five days as they travel to Munich Tuesday night for a German Cup game against Pro A team Bayern Munich. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
