By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
After winning the 2023 Basketball Champions League – the first trophy in the German club’s history -, Telekom Baskets Bonn got the opportunity to represent Europe in the 2023 FIBA Intercontinental Cup, entering the competition against West Asia Super League champion Al Manama, from Bahrain.
In what ended up being an absolute domination from the beginning to the end, the German club won the encounter 105-50, shooting 42.2% from beyond the arc and being perfect at the free throw line on 12 attempts.
The 23-year-old small forward Sam Griesel was unstoppable for Roel Moors’ newest team, ending the game with a double-double of 28 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 6/9 from deep. “My teammates gave me the most confidence. Knowing I trusted them and they trusted me, we went out there and executed. We all want to win, we’re eager to do so”, he said after receiving the MVP of the Game Award.
Glynn Watson had also an impressive showing off the bench, scoring 15 points with 4 rebounds and 5 assists. On the Bahrain side, instead, Dominic Pointer had 14 points – with 7 turnovers – in his team’s loss, followed by Ahmed Haji’s 12 points. Overall, they had a rough shooting night from the field (17/57).
First time for Africa in the Intercontinental Cup
The second game of the 2023 FIBA Intercontinental Cup in Singapore, unlike the first encounter which saw Telekom Baskets Bonn respecting the expectations, delivered a huge surprise: Al Ahly beat the NBA G-League Ignite 82-76, getting the first-ever victory for an African team in the competition.
The Egyptian side was dragged by the double-doubles of Mostafa Kejo (10 points and 13 rebounds) and of Omar Oraby (14 points and 11 rebounds), with also the former Miami Heat playmaker Norris Cole – who shot 4/17 from the field but still had 13 points and 9 assists – on board.
NBA G-League Ignite, instead, didn’t have the best of nights, considering the 18-year-old phenomenon Izan Almansa’s poor night of 4 points and 8 rebounds. Tyler Smith had 18 points and 6 rebounds in the loss, followed by John Jenkins and Ron Holland, who combined for 31 points.
PHOTO CREDIT: 2023 FIBA Intercontinental Cup
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