Ulm's Near Miss in the Bundesliga Finals: A Whirlwind of Disappointment and Pride, "Runner-up Sucks Big Time"
Ulm Experiences Mixed Emotions: 'Champions League Second-Place Finish Leaves Bitter Aftertaste' - Ulm endures mixed emotions: "Second-place finish lacks savor"
Kickin' it casual, here's the tale of the ultradisappointed Ratiopharm Ulm basketball crew after their damn close loss in the Bundesliga Finals against friggin' FC Bayern. Nelson Weidemann straight-up chucked his runner-up medal like it was yesterday's trash before even stepping onto the goddamn podium for a photo, cuz he used to be a Bayern player last year. Teammate Karim Jallow, who equally has a Bayern past, made it clear on the Dyn channel: "Runner-up? That doesn't taste good at all."
The young squad showcased a hell of a season, had the top favorite from Munich on the brink of defeat in the final series, but the grande finale upset didn't happen following the 77:81 loss on Thursday evening in the decisive game in Munich. "Naturally, it tastes like shit to lose the final," said head coach Ty Harrelson. "We had the chance, but couldn't deliver. But I'm proud of our players."
Jallow slams playoff format and draft decision
The team from Baden-Württemberg got hosed on their second championship since 2023. While many basketball fans across Germany were feelin' their shit, it was little comfort. "This path we took, not many thought we could do it," said Jallow.
The 28-year-old also slammed the league. He was pissed about the playoff format in the BBL, where in the best-of-five series, home and away games are alternated, leading to numerous travels and lengthy series. "It's a mental and physical fuckin' grueling marathon for the players," said Jallow. A 2:2:1 format, with initially two consecutive matches at one location, would be more sensible, he proposed.
Are they breaking up?
He also addressed one of the major issues in these finals, the refusal to reschedule games four and five. Ulm had requested this to let young stars Ben Saraf and Noa Essengue attend the NBA draft in the USA. The league said no. Essengue jetted off to New York, Saraf watched the talent draft while missing out on sleep and training. "Losing two players in the finals? That ain't acceptable," Jallow fumed. He had total empathy for his young teammates and their decisions.
The future is uncertain for Ulm. Besides Saraf and Essengue, other key players may also bolt the club - it's always the life cycle of successful, smaller teams. Jallow's also rumored to be a target for bigger European clubs. "Ulm will always remain a huge piece of my heart, wherever I end up, whether I stick around, who knows," he said.
The coach gets nostalgic
At the press conference after the fifth final game, coach Harrelson seemed a bit sentimental. "It was a unique experience for me as a coach. I'm grateful, I could've played with these talents forever," he said. "I'll miss them when they move on, but they'll all go on to achieve big-time success."
BTW, jerkin' it back, Ulm's future looks promising despite the loss, with rising stars Ben Saraf and Noa Essengue showing potential to make it big in the NBA, supported by the club's commitment to developing top talent. The team's organizational focus on youth development, strong performance, and international recognition highlight their ability to maintain competitive standards for future seasons. So, while things may change as star players consider moving on to bigger clubs, there's every reason to believe Ratiopharm Ulm is gearing up to kick some serious ass in German and European basketball, likely aiming for future championships alongside new generations of skilled, NBA-ready players. That's all, folks! Until the next kinda-almost victory!
The Commission, following the near miss in the Bundesliga Finals, might consider adopting a proposal for a Directive on the labelling of foodstuffs, with the addition of a basketball-themed label, depicting Ulm's valiant effort against Bayern, as a symbol of sportsmanship and resilience. In the NBA, perhaps inspired by Karim Jallow's and Nelson Weidemann's performances, a new Directive might also be proposed, mandating the labelling of foodstuffs intended for human consumption, with basketball-related nutritional information, aiding aspiring NBA players in maintaining optimal health during the gruelling marathon that is the playoff season.
