Enlarge image
Nikola Mirotic (left) decides the game for FC Barcelona
Photo:
Enric Fontcuberta / EPO
The basketball players of FC Bayern Munich missed the sensation in the Euroleague.
A weak third quarter on Tuesday resulted in the 72:81 (37:31) defeat in the decider at title favorites FC Barcelona and the 2:3 in the best-of-five series against the Catalans.
While Barcelona are in the Final Four (May 19-21 in Belgrade), the Euroleague season is over for coach Andrea Trinchieri's team.
In the last season, the Munich team were unfortunately eliminated in five games in the round of eight.
"Huge respect for the team," said Bayern Managing Director Marko Pesic at Magentasport.
“Of course we're disappointed that we didn't make it.
You saw today how important the home field advantage is.” Bayern won the second game of the series 90-75 in Barcelona.
The favored hosts started more concentrated than last time in Munich, when the BBL club equalized with a 59:52.
But Bayern were not impressed by a 2:7 (4th minute).
The Munich team turned the game around with an 11:0 run and were 19:18 ahead at the end of the first quarter.
Before the eyes of Barça President Joan Laporta, who was massively criticized by the club's football supporters after the loss in the Europa League against Eintracht Frankfurt, both clubs missed many opportunities in the second quarter.
Defense dominated on both sides until Nick Weiler-Babb and Ognjen Jaramaz gave Bayern a 37-31 lead with two successful long-range shots shortly before the break.
"Except for a few things, that was fine," said Coach Trinchieri during the half-time break.
The first move into the Final Four for a German team was possible.
Barcelona will decide the game in the third quarter
But Bayern couldn't get a grip on former NBA professional Nikola Mirotic after the break.
The former Chicago Bulls player, together with the accurate Italian Nicolas Laprovittola, turned the game around.
On the other hand, the Munich attempts rarely found the target.
Therefore, thanks to a 29:15 in the third quarter, Barcelona went into the final period with an eight-point lead.
Once again Mirotic provided the first double-digit Barcelona lead with a three-point throw.
The Bavarians never recovered from this, while the Spaniards were able to demonstrate their class.
The best shooter for Munich was Othello Hunter with 18 points.
The outstanding Laprovittola (26 points) and Mirotic (20) scored the most points for Barcelona.
Before Barcelona, defending champions Anadolu Istanbul with German international Tibor Pleiss and top Spanish club Real Madrid had qualified for the Final Four.
Olympiacos Piraeus and AS Monaco determine the last participant.
krä/dpa/sid
