"We are happy that the top four will be in Frankfurt. We want to bring the cup back to Frankfurt", said a very excited Spyro Panteliadis
The OPEL SKYLINERS reached the Top Four final last year, but had to bow out to Rhein Energie Cologne after a tough battle. This year, Cologne is in the Top Four again and could meet Frankfurt in the final. This would be a perfect revenge for Frankfurt after their heartbreaking loss last year. It would also be a perfect opportunity for the OPEL SKYLINERS to break the season 1-1 record. Early in the season, Frankfurt lost at Cologne 91-68, but was able to beat them at home 89 to 74. The Telekom Baskets Bonn and ENBW Ludwigsburg have also reached the Top Four. The OPEL SKYLINERS will be really motivated to meet Ludwigsburg, who beat Frankfurt twice this season, including the buzzer winning basket in the Ballsporthalle in January.
It is the sixth time, after 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2004 that the Top Four has been held in Frankfurt. The first semi final betwen Ludwigsburg and Cologne will be Saturday May 7th at 16:00 and the second semi final between the OPEL SKYLINERS and Bonn will be at 18:50.
The game for third place will be on Sunday at 14:15 and the final will be at 17:00. You can get tickets at all ticket agencies or at the hotline 069-92887619. You need to be aware that the organizer of the Top Four is the BBL and not the OPEL SKYLINERS, so all tickets for home games of the OPEL SKYLINERS have no validity.
The next few months will be very exciting for the OPEL SKYLINERS, as well as for the fans. Frankfurt still has chances to win the regular season title, win the German Cup and win the BBL championship in June. The fans will eagerly await the return of everybody´s darling, American Tyrone Ellis, who has been sidelined since late December. His injury is recuperating and he has said, that he would make his return at the Top Four. Ellis´ friend and teammate American Chris Williams is looking forward to a lineup with himself, Ellis and Franklin for the stretch run. "This would be a great combination. I am able to penetrate, score inside and pass to the open guy and they can penetrate and hit the open shot. We complement each other really well and this combination can only work." If this combination works and the rest of the OPEL SKYLINERS can play as a focused team, then the next few months could bring a lot of happinness to the basketball fans in the Rein-Main area.
Miles Schmidt-Scheuber reporting for the OPEL SKYLINERS
