Rostock’s Run Comes to an Abrupt End as Alba Berlin Reigns Supreme
Rostock, Germany: Rostock Seawolves’ recent winning streak has been extinguished following a 71-78 defeat against Alba Berlin in front of a sold-out crowd of 4,850 at the Stadthalle. This setback marks the Mecklenburger’s ninth loss in 19 games.
The encounter commenced with both teams trading blows, maintaining a level playing field. Midway through the opening quarter, Rostock gained a slight edge before Berlin rallied to close the gap. As the first half drew to a close, the Mecklenburgers surged once more.
However, Berlin refused to concede the game. Despite a sluggish start to the second half, the visitors gradually chipped away at the deficit, seizing the lead for the first time since a Yanni Wetzell dunk put them 51-49 ahead. The final period witnessed Alba pulling away, as Rostock faltered in their attempts to contain the visitors and prevent defeat.
JeQuan Lewis led the scoring for the hosts with an impressive 23 points. Despite their valiant efforts, the Seawolves were unable to overcome the relentless pressure from Berlin.
First Quarter: Both Teams Level-Pegging
The opening minutes of the contest saw both sides trading baskets, with neither able to establish a significant lead. Rostock’s Ricky Price drained a three-pointer to give his side an early advantage, but Berlin responded with a quickfire jumper from Johannes Thiemann.
Midway through the quarter, the Seawolves managed to create a small buffer, with a Lewis three-pointer and a layup from Jonas Richter putting them 17-13 ahead. However, Berlin refused to let Rostock run away with the game, as Christ Koumadje sank a hook shot and Niels Giffey added a layup to reduce the deficit to 19-17.
Second Quarter: Rostock Surges Ahead
As the second quarter got underway, the Mecklenburgers began to exert their authority on proceedings. A dazzling fast-break dunk from Lewis sent the crowd into raptures and extended Rostock’s lead to 26-20.
Berlin struggled to contain Rostock’s offensive prowess, as the hosts continued to pile on the points. A three-pointer from Till Gloger and a nifty layup from Chris Carter pushed the advantage to 36-25, forcing Alba coach Israel Gonzalez to call a timeout.
The visitors responded with a brief rally, as Jaleen Smith converted a layup and Giffey drained a three-pointer to reduce the deficit to 36-30. However, Rostock held on to a narrow 45-36 lead heading into the break.
Third Quarter: Berlin Fights Back
After the interval, Berlin came out with renewed determination. Luke Sikma scored a quick bucket inside, and Giffey followed up with another three-pointer to close the gap to just 45-42.
Rostock fought back gamely, with Lewis sinking a jumper and Gloger adding a layup to keep their opponents at bay. However, Berlin continued to chip away at the deficit, as Sikma converted another layup and Wetzell hit a free throw.
With just over four minutes remaining in the quarter, Wetzell’s dunk gave Berlin the lead for the first time since the first quarter, sparking a deafening roar from the away fans.
Fourth Quarter: Alba Seals the Victory
The final period belonged to Alba as they tightened their defense and inflicted a series of decisive blows on Rostock. Giffey converted a layup to make it 60-56, before Maodo Lo sank a huge three-pointer to extend the lead to 63-56.
Rostock tried to respond, but their shots were not falling, and Berlin continued to pile on the pressure. Lo drained another three-pointer, and Wetzell added a layup to put the game beyond doubt.
Conclusion
Despite their valiant efforts, Rostock Seawolves were unable to overcome the might of Alba Berlin, who claimed a hard-fought 78-71 victory in front of a packed Stadthalle. JeQuan Lewis’s 23 points were not enough to inspire Rostock to victory, as Berlin’s relentless aggression proved too much to handle.
Alba’s triumph cements their status as one of the top teams in the league, while Rostock’s defeat leaves them in the bottom half of the standings. However, with the season still in its early stages, Rostock have plenty of time to regroup and challenge for a playoff spot in the weeks and months to come.
