Ulm before winning the title: Can the basketball players stop Bayern?

Ulm before winning the title: Can the basketball players stop Bayern?

An exciting evening is imminent: Ratiopharm Ulm has the great chance to secure the German basketball championship on Tuesday. In the best-of-Five final series, Ulm is 2-1 against FC Bayern Munich. The decisive game begins at 8:00 p.m. local time and could be the second title for Ulm after the first championship title 2023. A victory means for Bavaria, which, with a defeat, would end the season without title. A compensation for 2: 2, on the other hand, would ensure a all decisive game next Thursday in Munich. However, the Ulm players Ben Saraf and Noa Essengue are on the brink: both take part in the NBA draft and their operational capacity is uncertain. It is also worth noting that Ulm's application to move games four and five because of this collision was rejected by the league.

Last Friday there was a dramatic duel between Ulm and Bavaria, which the Ulmer won with 81:79. Justin Jessup was the hero of the evening and led his team to victory with crucial points. Ulm started with a 9-0 run, but Bayern countered quickly and led at halftime with 42:37. In the second half, Ulm flourished and benefited from the mistakes of Bayern, who ended up in the end of the game. Jessup, who stayed cool in the final phase, achieved the decisive three for 80:79. Bayern player Niels Giffey expressed his frustration and called for a clear reaction of the team for the next game.

basketball in Germany: an emerging sport

basketball is becoming increasingly popular in Germany. According to current statistics, the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) has a viewer of 4,836 per game in the 2023/2024 season, a clear increase compared to the 4,323 spectators in the 2013/2014 season. The German Basketball Bund (DBB) now has over 219,000 members, and the German men's national team is on the impressive third place in the FIBA ​​world rankings. These successes are also reflected in the increased interest in basketball: Around 13 million people in Germany follow the games, which is about 19% of the population.

The past season was a highlight for German basketball. The German national basketball team won the World Cup in 2023 and triumphed against Serbia in the final. Many new talents were discovered and encouraged in the BBL. In the 2023/2024 season, seven German players are even active in the NBA. The popularity of basketball has increased significantly and provides a solid basis for future successes.

With the upcoming game, Ratiopharm Ulm has the opportunity to create another historical moment. The tension increases and all eyes are aimed at the game on Tuesday.