By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
The second half in the Telekom Dome seemed to have prepared the stage for a balanced Game 1 of this best-of-three series between the German reigning champions and Vassilis Spanoulis’ Peristeri. However, ending the third quarter with a 28-16 run, Bonn went all the way to the final 89-78 win.
Roel Moors’ team was dragged by several protagonists, with Sam Griesel and Noah Kirkwood both on top with 19 points each. They were followed by Till Pape, who scored 15 points in the victory, and Glynn Watson, who went close to a double-double with 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 9 assists.
Thomas Kennedy, who has scored in double-digits for Bonn in the previous six Basketball Champions League games after combining 12 points over his first three appearances, ended Game 1 by going close to a double-double with 8 points and 8 rebounds.
Elijah Mitrou-Long was by far the best for Peristeri, scoring a team-high 22 points. Trevor Thompson also had an impressive night, ending in Germany with 13 rebounds grabbed. Kenny Williams scored 9 points in the defeat but had to leave the court with his left ankle twisted at 4:44 left.
Joe Ragland, who entered this best-of-three series by posting seven double-doubles this season and needs one more to break the competition’s record for most recorded, didn’t have the best of nights, ending with a poor impact of 9 points and 6 assists, shooting 4/14 from the field.
Game 2 will see Peristeri come back to his home court, hosting Bonn on April 10 at 18:30 CET. The winner of this series will go on to face the winner of the clash between Tenerife and Tofas Bursa in the 2024 Basketball Champions League Final Four, scheduled for April 26-28 in Belgrade’s Stark Arena.
Post-game press conference:
PHOTO CREDIT: Basketball Champions League