Unforeseen play-in game - Pupils arrange time off for educators.
Pedro Calles (40) spent two enjoyable years at Veolia Towers Hamburg, mentoring his assistant coach Benka Barloschky (36). After this, Calles made the move to EWE Baskets Oldenburg in 2022. Since Barloschky took over at Towers in January 2023, he's lost all three matches against his old friend. He managed to hold on for the most crucial game thus far.
Shocking Upset: Pupils Beat Professors!
This was such a significant triumph for Hamburg since they had never previously won a playoff game.
Top scorer of the Towers, V.J. King (24 points), expressed: "We had nothing to lose." Barloschky said after his greatest triumph: "I've trusted my team all season, so why stop now?"
The Oldenburg team experienced quite a season with 16 injuries. Once again, Max DiLeo, Kenny Ogbe, Norris Agbokoko (Wade), and Charles Manning Jr. were unavailable. The Towers, by contrast, "only" had to do without their center Aleksander Dziewa (knee).
Most experts envisioned a defensive battle in the must-win confrontation. But the opposite happened as they started off with bold offense and wide open goals. The Towers enjoyed a 10-0 dream start! Highlights from the game included two fierce dunks from the firebird Ebuka Izundu and an outrageous quarterback pass from Hamburg's captain, Seth Hinrichs. "Seth Mahomes," marvelled commentator, Arne Malsch. Meanwhile, basketball expert, Patrick Femerling, shook his head in awe: "Amazing! Offensively, it was fireworks."
The Oldenburg team didn't take the lead until right before halftime, 31 seconds before the buzzer (44:43). But the guests had the upper hand to begin with after the break. They seized more rebound opportunities. The outcome: 62:51 (24') - and a quick call for a timeout by Calles. This intervention couldn't stop the run, however. Hamburg led by a margin of 16 points due to their excellent shooting (69:53). There were 13 minutes remaining. An eternal period in basketball...
But as the minutes wore on, so did the hope. As the crowd in the stadium quietened down, the players from the Towers marched up to the spectators and celebrated their unique accomplishment alongside their supportive travel companions.
The Towers have only won once since their promotion five years ago. In 2021, when Calles was the coach and Barloschky his student...
Now, "It's not about the coaches – it's not that important. The players are the ones on the court. We're there, remaining energetic on the sidelines."
Hamburg will now face the loser of the Telekom Baskets Bonn and MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg game on Thursday, battling for the last open spot in the playoff quarter-finals. Barloschky concluded: "For the time being, it feels good. However, the job is not yet done. We're aiming for the playoffs. It's crystal clear."
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Source: symclub.org
