The Niners Chemnitz basketball team underlined its ambitions of reaching the play-in games at the start of the penultimate Bundesliga matchday. The team of Head Coach Rodrigo Pastore defeated Skyliners Frankfurt by 86:82 (71:71, 46:31) after overtime on Thursday evening. In front of 4,473 spectators, Kevin Yebo was the Niners' best scorer with 22 points as they secured their eleventh home win of the season to move into tenth place with 32:34 points.
Chemnitz quickly got into its rhythm in offense, but initially lacked intensity in defense. However, they then produced a 9:0 run to turn a deficit into a 24:18 lead by the first quarter break. Although Frankfurt, which was short of substitutes, reduced the deficit to one point midway through the second quarter, the home side then went on a hot run from the three-point line to take a double-digit lead for the first time (40:28 in the 17th minute).
The momentum in offense waned considerably in the second half. Frankfurt sensed its chance and fought its way closer and closer against a sluggish home side. The 19-year-old Ivan Crnjac equalized with four free throws to make it 71:71 and so force overtime. The Niners had more to add there and ultimately deserved to win.
