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Bayern win basketball title

June 19, 2014

For the first time since 1955, Bayern Munich have won the basketball Bundesliga. The team, coached by former Germany coach Svetislav Pesic, celebrated the title after a comfortable victory against Alba Berlin.

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Alba Berlin Deutscher Basketball Meister 2014
Image: picture-alliance/dpa

"I'm exhausted and happy. It's an amazing feeling. At the end of the day, I'd have been just as motivated to play against Quakenbrück," said German international Heiko Schaffartzik, who played for Berlin before joining Munich: "In view of the hate with which the fans greeted me, Marko and Svetislav Pesic, the man who made this club great, this is satisfying."

In front of around 13,000 fans in Alba's home stadium in the east of Berlin, Bryce Taylor (16 points) and Deon Thompson (18) secured Bayern's deserved and final victory of the season. On a disappointing night for finalists Berlin, Leon Radosevic (21) was the top scorer for Sasa Obradovic's side.

Bayern were keen to avoid a Game 5 on Sunday, and did so thanks to a focused performance in an intimidating atmosphere, securing their first title of the club's new era, three seasons after promotion to the top flight.

After the visitor's found themselves 15-13 down at the end of the first quarter, Munich took a strong lead after the break (43-34) and although Alba came back, Bayern held their nerve in the face of huge pressure and won 75-62 (33-30).

Alba Berlin Deutscher Basketball Meister 2014
Alba's centre Radosevic (right) was his team's top scorer, but couldn't prevent defeatImage: Getty Images

Bayern's basketball fans have had to wait since 1955 for this title with Bayern having last triumphed in 1954. Berlin fell short in their bid to secure a ninth title, with their last trophy coming six years ago. Brose Baskets Bamberg won the championship in the previous four seasons.

jh/pfd (dpa/sid)