Even though the 32nd birthday of Pascal Roller (180-G-76) was filled with many cakes, The Deutsche Bank Skyliners didnt come to eat, but play against The Nordlingen Giants and escape with a humbling 74 to 64 win in cup action. I had enough cake today. We had three cakes at lunch and I am filled right now, joked Ilian Evtimov (201-F-83, agency: Interperformances, college: N.Carolina St.) after the game in the tunnel of the Ballsporthalle. The Deutsche Bank Skyliners last reached the Top four in 2005 and are as hungry as a baby kitten yearning for its mothers milk to finally reach the last four again. It was not a pretty win, but sometimes just winning is soothing no matter how one played. We controlled the game and at the end were just a bit more clever and didnt let them bring us out of our rhythm and we got some good calls at the end, stated Skyliner captain Pascal Roller. One could of almost felt sorry for the Nordlingen Giants, with Varnie Dennis (202-F-82, agency: Rasmussen Services, college: Cal Poly - SLO) and Loderick Stewart having too depart the team weeks ago and getting bitter injuries to big men Avi Kazarnovski and Ty Shaw, the team played with a lot of heart and showed that they had extreme fighting qualities. We played really hard, but once again it wasnt enough. We really got beat up under the boards too. We made some mental mistakes down the stretch, which cost us the game, explained Canadian Osvaldo Jeanty (183-G-84, agency: Scorers 1st Sportmanagement).

The beginning looked anything like a cup atmosphere and instead of seeing a tight defensive game, the fans were offered a high paced and quick scoring game. After Domonik Bahiense De Mello opened the scoring with a three pointer, both teams traded 5-0 runs. Canadian Osvaldo Jeanty showed his versatile play by burying a three pointer and then gliding into the zone with a hoop. Frankfurt responded with outside shots from Ilian Evtimov and Pascal Roller. Hardly two minutes had been played, and The Deutsche Bank Skyliners led 8-5. April fools is still five months away, but coach Murat Didin wasnt fooling anyone as he started with out Greg Jenkins (206-F/C-82, college: Iona) and Anthony King (206-F/C, agency: Interperformances, college: Miami, FL). Nordlingen German center Josef Eichler (200-F-87) found an opening in the zone and finished with a two handed dunk. The Frankfurt defense was still getting used to the fast Nordlingen tempo as American Omari Westley (201-F-82, college: Cleveland St.) spun around Konrad Wysocki (202-F-82, agency: Pro One Sports, college: Princeton) giving Nordlingen the lead back to 9-8.

In the next few minutes, Frankfurt showed how dangerous they can be when their offensive machine is on full throttle as they rushed out on a 14-2 run. Frankfurt scored in the zone with Derrick Allen (203-F-80, agency: Pro One Sports, college: Mississippi), connected from outside from Evtimov, De Mello and Roller and De Mello again on the fast break. Frankfurt led 22 to 11 as Nordlingen had fallen into a small offense and defensive hole. However, Nordlingen crawled out of their cavity like a cheerful groundhog and answered with a 7-0 run to climb back to 22-18. Monta McGhee (202-F-79, agency: AMI, college: Lewis) and Osvaldo Jeanty did the damage. Frankfurt led 25 to 18 after one quarter. The two stats that made the difference were the Frankfurt three point supremacy of 56% to 27% and the seven assists spoke for their concentrated organization.

The Deutsche Bank Skyliners showed a lot of poise and patience with the Nordlingen run and gun offense and started with a 6-1 run to extend their lead to 31 to 20. Pascal Roller hit from outside, then Anthony King made his first appearance and rammed his way to the basket and layed it in softly like a tame Lion. Pascal Roller showed his athletic beauty as he scored a lay up while falling. German Konrad Wysocki scored the next three baskets and Frankfurt led 38 to 26. On the third bucket, he was open so long behind the three point line, that he could of easily drawn rough preliminary plans for his dream house. Ilian Evtimov followed with a three pointer. Frankfurt led 41 to 26, but instead of taking a comfortable 15 point lead into halftime, Frankfurt lost a bit of concentration as Nordlingen scored five unanswered points. Omari Westley could easily audition for the beast in beauty and the beast, as he controlled an offensive rebound and drove by two Skyliners. He then drowned a buzzer beater at halftime. The three point percentage of Nordlingen remained a disaster as they were shooting only 25%. But the most surprising stat was that both teams had made 14 points in t