Alba Berlin wins German championship after comeback victory over Bayern Munich

Alba Berlin has reclaimed the German championship title, defeating Bayern Munich 84-81 in a dramatic fifth game of the Bundesliga finals. This victory, their first league title in four years, marks their twelfth overall and ends Bayern's bid for a third consecutive championship.

The game saw a stunning turnaround, with Bayern Munich, coached by Svetislav Pesic, establishing a commanding 47-27 lead by halftime. Their dominance was particularly evident in the second quarter, where a stifling defense limited Alba Berlin to just seven points. The home crowd in Munich seemed poised to celebrate another title as Bayern entered the final quarter with a thirteen-point advantage.

However, Alba Berlin, under the guidance of Spanish coach Pedro Calles, mounted an incredible comeback in the second half. A decisive 14-0 run early in the fourth quarter shifted the momentum, allowing Alba to seize control of the game. The team's strong performance in the final period, which they won 31-15, secured their championship victory.

Despite a game-high 24 points from Bayern's Andreas Obst, it was not enough to counter Alba Berlin's resurgence. Key contributors for Alba included American power forward Justin Bean, who recorded 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists, alongside strong performances from Germans Jonas Mattisseck (18 points) and Malte Delow (14 points).