By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Recovering from a slow start, FC Bayern Munich blew out Crvena Zvezda mts, 82-57, to clinch a Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs berth. Completing the pack, Anadolu Efes and AS Monaco officially entered the top eight Friday as well.
Augustine Rubit paving the way recorded 22 points, five rebounds, three steals, and one block in the Regular Season Round 33 fixture. DeShaun Thomas added 16 points. Part of the 2020-21 Crvena Zvezda squad, Corey Walden sat out alongside injured Nick Weiler-Babb.
Seeding implications as the German outfit goes on the road to collide with Fenerbahce Beko, Anadolu Efes, and Real Madrid next week. The Audi Dome will be back in effect during the best-of-five Playoffs series for Game 3 and potentially Game 4.
“It was a great game. We played really tough as a team. Everybody helped us,” said Andrea Trinchieri, “It’s an unbelievable achievement looking back at what happened and is still happening to us. Congratulations to my players. They really fought to the very end of their energies and I am very happy for them.”
“The Playoffs are a specific part of the competition. It is not easy to win games,” visiting head coach Dejan Radonjic previewed his former team in the Playoffs, “I think they have the chance to be competitive and play good basketball, and why not go to the Final Four.”
Dominating the middle quarters, Trinchieri’s side snapped the three-game losing streak and jumped to 13-12 to qualify for the playoffs for the second consecutive season. In full contrast, the Serbian club fell to 11-15 and was eliminated.
Scoring ten of his team-high 12 points in the first half, Nikola Kalinic was kept quiet in the third period with his side held to ten points and knocked out. Ruled out for the next month, Branko Lazic was not available in Munich. Also sidelined were Austin Hollins and Maik Zirbes.
Wrapping up the 2021-22 EuroLeague campaign, the team guided by Radonjic will visit Zalgiris Kaunas Sunday and welcome Anadolu Efes to Belgrade Friday.
Photo Credit: EuroLeagueBasketball.net