Alba Berlin wins German championship after stunning comeback against Bayern Munich

Alba Berlin has reclaimed the German basketball championship title, clinching their 12th league victory by defeating defending champions Bayern Munich 84-81 in a dramatic fifth final game. This win marks the first championship for Alba since 2022, ending Bayern Munich's two-year reign. The game was a tale of two halves, with Bayern Munich holding a commanding 20-point lead at halftime. However, Alba Berlin mounted an extraordinary comeback in the second half, inspired by stellar performances from Jonas Mattisseck and Justin Bean, who both scored 18 points. "It's super hard to put into words," said Mattisseck after the game, struggling to describe the improbable turnaround. "In a game like this, being down by 20 at halftime and then coming back, I can't describe it. I don't know how it worked." On the opposing side, Niels Giffey of Bayern Munich expressed deep frustration. "We just handled it poorly and no longer had control over our defense like we did in the first half," he stated. The loss marked the final game for Bayern's coach Svetislav Pešić before his retirement.

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It's super hard to put into words. In a game like this, being down by 20 at halftime and then coming back, I can't describe it. I don't know how it worked.