Ulm suffers defeat in game five, falling short of securing the second championship in their club's history.
Thrilling Finale: Bayern Defend Bundesliga Title in Nail-Biter
Munich is still the hub of German basketball, with FC Bayern snatching a hard-fought victory over underdog ratiopharm Ulm in the Bundesliga playoff final. In a tense game five, Bayern emerged triumphant with a 81:77 (48:41) win, securing their seventh championship title.
Veteran Devin Booker shone for the champions, scoring 19 points, despite a turbulent Munich season. Bayern had stumbled in the semi-finals of the cup and missed out on the playoffs in the Euroleague, but managed to pull off a happy ending in the end.
Ulm, who failed to replicate their 2023 Bundesliga shock, could only rely on 22 points from Karim Jallow for the coup. Despite a formidable performance, the team coached by Ty Harrelson had to settle for a season well-played and a close call against the Isar powerhouse.
Home Advantage Prevails in High-Stakes Matches
Game five marked the eleventh time in Bundesliga history that a decisive fifth final game took place. An intriguing tradition emerged, as the home team has won every single one of the earlier ten duels. Bayern's crushing 67:53 away win in Ulm ensured that this epic showdown would take place in their home arena.
Defensive-minded from the beginning, the hosts made life difficult for Ulm. A dominating second quarter had the Munich team leading by as much as 17 points (47:30). The fourth quarter, however, turned into a nail-biting thriller, with Ulm narrowing the gap and eventually taking the lead 66:65 midway through the third quarter. The home team fought back valiantly and secured a thrilling victory in the end.
Somewhat ironically, Bayern's star prospect Carsen Edwards, recovering from a back injury, was pictured with his head in his hands on the bench, while Ulm's young star Noa Essengue was participating in the NBA draft but missed the action due to the absence of his teammate, Ben Saraf, who opted to play instead.
Further Reading:
- FC Bayern vs RB Leipzig: Bundesliga Season Opener on Home Turf
- Will Nicolas Woltemade Become the New Record Transfer of VfB Stuttgart?
- Junior Girls TSV Korntal Off the Pace Only to FC Bayern
[1] German Basketball Bundesliga: Bayern Munich Defend Title in Thriller against Ulm[2] Statistics: Home Team Advantage in Decisive BBL Matches[3] Latest Scores and Results from the German Basketball Bundesliga[4] Official Bayern Munich Website: Bundesliga Champions
The success of Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga playoff final, a nail-biter against ratiopharm Ulm, showcased their dominance in German basketball. Despite their struggles earlier in the season, veterans like Devin Booker guided them to secure their seventh championship title.
Remarkably, the home advantage prevails in high-stakes matches, as Bayern's win in the decisive fifth game against Ulm, their tenth such victory in Bundesliga history, demonstrates.
