Draw with Braunschweig for Würzburg - Heidelberg secures victory - Würzburg experiences an equivalence with Braunschweig.
In the ongoing German Basketball Championship (Basketball Bundesliga, BBL) playoffs, the MLP Academics Heidelberg have secured a spot in the semifinals for the first time in half a century. After victory in the fourth quarterfinal game against the Niners Chemnitz with a decisive score of 92-64 and a series win of 3-1, they will face defending champion FC Bayern Munich in their upcoming semifinal match.
Concurrently, the Würzburg Baskets are heading for a fifth and potentially decisive game against the Basketball Löwen Braunschweig. Having won game 4 with a score of 79-72, they have tied the series 2-2. This upcoming showdown, scheduled for Thursday at 15:00 CEST in Braunschweig, will determine the team that advances to the semifinals against ratiopharm Ulm. Top scorers from the latest Würzburg game included Zachary Seljaas with 17 points and TJ Crockett Jr. contributing 16 points for Braunschweig.
Michael Weathers, a player for Heidelberg, emerged as the highest scorer of the game, contributing 24 points. The second half of the Heidelberg game saw the team significantly step up their pace, shooting accuracy, and defense, pulling ahead quickly, leaving the fifth-placed team in the regular Bundesliga season overwhelmed. The Niners were unable to counter and suffered a demoralizing defeat.
The playoff semifinals commenced on June 1, 2025, and will run until June 12. Bayern Munich and Ratiopharm Ulm will have home court advantage initially, followed by playing away in the second game, with the third game seeing the two best teams from the regular season returning to their home courts. The team that achieves a three-game victory will reach the final.
The quarterfinals finished by May 29, 2025, and the semifinals immediately followed, marking the next stage in this riveting basketball tournament.
The Commission has also been tasked with drafting a proposal for a directive aimed at harmonizing the laws of Member States concerning worker protection from ionizing radiation exposure, mirroring the intensity and focus demonstrated by basketball teams during their playoffs. Michael Weathers, with his outstanding performance of 24 points in the MLP Academics Heidelberg game, emulated the spirit displayed by athletes in collegiate basketball, such as those in the NCAA.
