For the hardcore Skyliner fan, the imaginative word Bamberbre might bring shivers up their spine, because it stands for the first three letters for the three teams that The Deutsche Bank Skyliners lost to the last three years in cup play. It was also bizarre that each team started with the letter B. However Frankfurt didnt catch the short end a fourth time against the letter B dismantling the New York Phantoms Braunschweig 68-58 in the quarterfinal in front of 4,027 persons and reaching the BBl Top 4 for the first time again in four years. The Deutsche Bank Skyliners did not let the dark and mysterious Volkswagonhalle irritate their play as they had a touch of super dog Scooby Doo on their side as they were able to out trick the Phantoms on their home court. The hero of the game turned out be BBL rookie American Adam Emmenecker (185-G-85, college: Drake), who finally broke free out of his cage, the same way a fish does after a hobby fisher throws it back into the water after having caught it. The Drake Alumnist, who never made more than two field goals this season in a BBL game shocked the Phantoms giving Frankfurt the lead in the fourth scoring 11 points and giving his team the needed energy to run away with the win. 'I worked hard on my positioning tonight. I got some open looks and hit them. My teammates had a lot of confidence in me', said an overjoyed Adam Emmenecker.
The New York Phantoms had had such high hopes of finally reaching their first BBL Top 4, but were bitterly disappointed after scoring 26 points in the first quarter, but could only muster 32 points in the last 30 minutes. 'We started strong in the first quarter, but they made adjustments on defense in the second quarter. They did a good job on the pick and roll with the switching forcing us to shoot more from outside. We didnt hit our shots and we didnt pressure them on defense anymore either', stated American 2009 BBL Allstar Andrew Drevo (202-F/C-81, agency: Warren Sports International, college: Nebraska). For guys like captain Pascal Roller (180-G-76), reaching a BBL top 4 is nothing new, bur for other guys like American Derrick Allen (203-F-80, agency: Pro One Sports, college: Mississippi) the first time is always the sweetest.' This is my first top 4 and it feels great. This cup run is just starting and we need to continue it in Hamburg', stressed Derrick Allen.
For coach Murat Didin , each Basketball game is like 40 minutes strayed over a whole lifespan, but when the game is over and all went well, he performs his moonlighting job as a Basketball philosopher using well thought out words. 'My team has very quality clothes. It is important to sew the clothes too. Now the team has to continue to produce these quality clothes. We believe that with these clothes we can make a cover for the BBL cup in Hamburg in 2009', expressed Skyliner coach Murat Didin . One Skyliner, who completes the fancy smoking suit for Murat Didin is Ilian Evtimov (201-F-83, agency: Interperformances, college: N.Carolina St.), who never hesitates to unleash new goodies out of his Basketball repertoire. 'I am really happy with this win. Our goal was to get to the Top four and now it is a two game series. It was just great how we won after struggling so in the first quarter', said an elated Ilian Evtimov.
The Deutsche Bank Skyliners were the favourite and knew that they couldnt just get a free ticket to Hamburg, but had to earn it against the always nasty and unpredictable team of Emir Mutapic. 'We knew that in order to pass GO and collect 200$(Monopoly game), we still had to get past Braunschweig in order to reach Hamburg', joked Murat Didin . Coach Didin may of stressed what had to be done to win, but in the opening minutes, his team looked as if the dark Braunschweig Phantom had scared them off, because Braunschweig jumped out to a 10-2 lead. Frankfurt seemed a bit over motivated, which led to mistakes and missed shots. Braunschweig had their offense flowing nicely soon and American William Franklin (183-G-85, college: Bradley) was always looking for the transition game. Americans Kyle Visser (211-C-85, agency: Octagon, college: Wake Forest) and Andrew Drevo scored in the paint as Frankfurt was not able to get the big bodies out. Drevo added another three pointer and American Jonathan Levy (193-G-82, college: Cal.St.-San Bernar.) also scored. After American Greg soft touch Jenkins made a lay in to temporarily halt the Braunschweig run, the Phantoms retaliated by going on another monster 13-2 run and lead 23-6. After Visser and Jason Cain (208-F-85, college: Virginia) scored, it was time for the Andrew Drevo shooting clinic as he nailed three three pointers in a row.
This shooting show might of even had Toronto Raptor three point specialist Jason Kapono (201-F-81, college: UCLA) raising a few eyebrows. The Phantoms had a commanding 26-10 lead after 10 minutes and Frankfurt were on a road towards Siberia, but not Hamburg with their play. Braunschweig was shooting 63% from the field and three point land, while Frankfurt was shooting only 33% from the field and 0% from the parking lot. The rebounds were even at 8 a piece, but Frankfurt already had four turnovers. 'Andrew Drevo made tough shots and we simply rushed too much on offesne, added Derrick Allen. Drevo helped us with his shooting and Kyle Visser was big inside. Our defense also was strong', stated American Michael Flowers (188-G-86, agency: CAA Sports, college: Wisconsin).
In the second quarter, The Deutsche Bank Skyliners began to use their full court press, but it didnt give Braunschweig much difficulty. American Derrick Allen kept Frankfurt in the game with baskets in the paint. One could feel, that Frankfurt was on the verge of breaking out of their non fluid offense funk, but here and there missed easy baskets. With the Phantoms still leading comfortably 30-15, it was time for The Deutsche Bank Skyliners to ripe off their phoney masks and start playing Skyliner Basketball. Fourth quarter hero Adam Emmenecker started the attack with a coast to coast spurt finishing with his left hand that left the Braunschweig defense checking for the license plate on that blur that passed into the zone. Ilian Evtimov followed with a three pointer, Lorenzo Gordon with a two handed slam dunk, Titus Ivory (193-G-79, college: Penn St.) with a three pointer and Keith Simmons (196-G-85, college: Holy Cross) with a hoop.
About as quickly as Barack Obama wanted to be sworn in as the next American President, was the turn in the tide of the game as Frankfurt only trailed 31-29 at half time. The Frankfurt defense was bringing back memories to the fantastic Ludwigsburg game outscoring the Phantoms 17-5. 'Our offesne was drifting a bit in the second quarter. Frankfurt was playing great team Basketball with the pick and roll, playing high and low and quickly dumping the ball to the off wing for the open shot', stressed American Michael Flowers. 'There were many reasons for our bad start. It is never easy to play well on the road. They played well making their shots, but we always believed in coming back, which we did', added American Adam Emmenecker. 'Our defense got better in the second half. They scored less, because we rotated well on defense and let them commit more turnovers. Keith and Adam were also strong on defense', stressed Ilain Evtimov. Braunschweig still had the upper hand shooting 44% from the field, while Frankfurt shot 33%. Braunschweig shot 38% from three point land and Frankfurt a miserable 25%. Frankfurt still had the 18-15 rebound advantage and had cut down their turnovers to seven, while Braunschweig had raised their turnover total to nine. Frankfurt led the points in the paint 14-8.
It seemed like The Deutsche Bank Skyliners were able to increase their intensity a bit each quarter as they stayed close with the Phantoms, but could not take the lead quite yet. Even though American Titus Ivory tied the game at 31, Braunschweig responded with a 6-0 run and Drevo continued to show his dangerous three point shooting and Visser followed with a tip in. American Titus Ivory continues to show that his experience might be the difference at the end of the season between a title and no title. He had two seconds remaining on the shot clock and had to shoot, but timed it perfectly to draw a foul on Dustin Salisbery (196-G-84, agency: Pro One Sports, college: Temple) behind the three point line and get three foul shots. Frankfurt stayed close on the Phantoms cape as German National player Konrad Wysocki (202-F-82, agency: Pro One Sports, college: Princeton) scored two baskets in traffic down low. Frankfurt trailed only 40-38, but Braunschweig always had an answer and this time it was American Jason Cain, who is the Phantoms version of their energizer as he scored twice in the zone including a two handed dunk. The Phantoms led 45-38, but the last few minutes became worthwhile for each paying customer and Frankfurt would stage another comeback.
After Keith Simmons scored, it was time for Ilian Evtimov to dazzle the crowd and give Derrick Allen an early birthday present with a beautiful pass behind his back as he was barrelling into the zone with his running hook, but opted to pass it instead. Evtimov has brought back memories to Boston Celtic Kevin Mchale with his fade away jumper and now brought comparisons to Boston Celtic legend Larry Bird with his passing candy qualities. 'I planned that behind the back pass to Derrick. As the two guys came to me, I fed him the ball. We have great chemistry and always know where each other is. I dont think like Larry Bird. He was Basketballs white Magic Johnson. He was able to pass so well, because he had a great understanding of the game', stressed Ilian Evtimov. Konrad Wysocki closed out the third quarter with a hoop from a no look pass from Adam Emmenecker. Frankfurt trailed only 47-46 as the game had become a classic cup battle. Frankfurt had raised their field goal percentage to 44% while the Phantoms fell to 41%. Frankfurt was still cold from three point land shooting 14% while the Phantoms were over 40%. Frankfurt controlled the rebounds 29-25.
In the fourth quarter, coach Murat Didin kept his confidence in Adam Emmenecker as he continued to keep captain Pascal Roller on the bench. Emmenecker became the most unlikely hero for Frankfurt as he turned out an offensive explosion, which can only benefit his development and confidence in the second half of the season as Roller may not always have the physical power to play 30 + minutes. Emmenecker played as if he had just landed from another planet and had been taught by the Basketball god. The Skyliners could of all sat back and had tee with Murat Didin , because the arena was witnessing the Adam Emmenecker show. He started with a lay in on a steal by Wysocki. He then nailed a three pointer.
From this point on, he had been transformed with an extra dose of self confidence as he always wanted the ball and on the next play penetrated hard into the zone and scored again. Frankfurt had gone on a 7-0 run and were leading 53-47. Braunschweig in the meantime couldnt get anything started on offense. 'We went on a run in the last quarter. Adam hit big shots and penetrated nicely. Our defense didnt give up anything. The most points that they got were on the free throw line. They got little easy shots, and when they did, they missed them', explained Ilian Evtimov. Frankfurt kept their offense arsenal rolling as Allen and Evtimov scored in the zone and Emmenecker hit another open three pointer.
Frankfurt led 60-47 and were on a 15-0 run. 'They hit big shots. We didnt hit shots, which gave their defense more confidence and were also able to score easy baskets', stated American Andrew Drevo. Frankfurt kept scoring with hoops from Titus Ivory and Lorenzo Gordon. The offensive spectacle by Adam Emmenecker had one last delicacy as he penetrated again finishing with his left hand easily showing that Basketball can be fun. Frankfurts run ended at 21-0. The air was not quite out by the Phantoms as they closed out the game with an 11-2 run with hoops from Drevo, Flowers and Nils Mittmann (201-F/C-79, agency: Agency No 10). Frankfurt had had another breathtaking quarter outscoring the Phantoms 23-7.' We were not dangerous enough in the last quarter. It seemed like we were playing not to loose instead of playing to win', warned Michael Flowers. Sometimes during a slow start, it takes time to find the right combinations. In the second half we found them, explained Adam Emmenecker.
The Deutsche Bank Skyliners were led By Americans Derrick Allen and Adam Emmenecker with 13 points a piece. 'Adam did a great job. He usually doesnt get a lot of points, but does the things that you dont see on the stats. He made two big three pointers showing a lot of self confidence', added Derrick Allen. The New York Phantoms Braunschweig were led by American Andrew Drevo with 19 point and nine rebounds. American Kyle Visser added nine points and American Jason Cain and German Nils Mittmann chipped in with eight points a piece.
The Deutsche Bank Skyliners showed again that they can turn the momentum of a game late in the game. They had a poor shooting day from the Messe area(3 point land) making only 14%, but shot 54% form the field. Braunschweig reached 40% or better from the field and from the parking lot. After a slow start under the boards this season, Frankfurt has made the rebounding a strength in the last two months dominating the boards 35-29. Frankfurt ripped apart Braunschweig 40-14 with points in the paint and only let the Phantoms score three times in the zone in the second half. Frankfurt did a fine job only getting 10 turnovers, while the Frankfurt defense forced the Phantoms to 18 turnovers. After a rough start to 2009, The Deutsche Bank Skyliners have won the last three games against BBL teams. Frankfurt continues to come back in many games on account of their deep bench. 'The great thing about this team is that any guy can step up in each game. We have 12 guys who can do it and tonight it was Adams turn to step up', commented Ilian Evtimov. Do the Skyliner faithful fans need to continue to worry with the lack of firepower on offense by Pascal Roller? 'Pascal is our leader. He knows what and what he cant do on court. He leads by example. When he talks, we listen', stressed Ilian Evtimov. 'In Basketball it is normal that on certain days other guys have to carry the flag. Pascal is a leader. His appearance on the bench is very important', warned Murat Didin . The Deutsche Bank Skyliners look to win their fourth game against a BBL team when they travel to visit The Telekom baskets Bonn on Sunday January 25th.
