However, headcoach Murat Didin is very content with the play of his team this season. "We can be very satisfied with the fourth place in the standings. We played most of the season without Tyrone Ellis and had long-term injuries with Robert Maras, Jukka Matinen and Malick Badiane. The BBL league is not easy. Frankfurt and Cologne are the only two teams to finish in the Top Four of the standigs and the cup. We have strong fans. They made the difference and helped us stay in the Top Four."
The game against Leverkusen was a game that the OPEL SKYLINERS should have won. Frankfurt had a comfortable lead early on 44 to 33, but couldn´t hold on. "Leverkusen played well against our zone defense and shot very well. We had some crucial defensive mistakes near the end that led to our loss", described a disappointed center Bernd Kruel. With 8.56 seconds to play, guard Spyro Panteliadis made only one free throw, which tied the game at 77 to 77. Leverkusen was able to score on their next possession with 4.19 seconds to play by a layup by Alexander Seggelke. Chris Williams missed a three pointer on Frankfurt´s last possession. A pity that Chris Williams was not able to sink one of his two three-pointers that he made in the game, which was a season best for him, on the last possesion.
The leading scorer for the OPEL SKYLINERS was American Chris Williams with 27 points, shooting 11/14 from the floor and grabbing five rebounds. Captain Pascal Roller, who was injured during the first quarter, played only 7:13 minutes and scored four points. The other guards stepped up with satisfying performances. Spyro Panteliadis keeps demonstrating that he is a capable backup to Roller, making 15 points and dishing out 4 assists. American Kavossy Franklin chipped in with 13 points and a season high of five rebounds.
The biggest worry for the OPEL SKYLINERS remains the center position. Badiane scored two points and hauled down five rebounds in 16 minutes of play. German Bernd Kruel got most of the playing time. Kruel scored eight points, had five rebounds, three assists and a frightening six turnovers. "I am not really happy with my game today. It was an average game for me. I had too many turnovers, but it was an improvement to the past few games", said a hopeful Bernd Kruel.
Even though Leverkusen was without two of its top players, Wucherer and Schultze, who have departed for Italy, it seemed as if they really didn´t need their scoring output. Leverkusen had a very balanced team scoring. American Greene led the Giants with 22 points. Basit had a double double, scoring 14 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. The University of Maine graduate Fox contributed 12 points. Seggelke and Geib rounded out the scoring with 11 points each. Coach Didin explained that not one of Leverkusen´s players made the difference for the victory. "They all fought as a team and that was the key to the win."
The OPEL SKYLINERS meet the Artland Dragons in the best of five playoff series, starting on May 15th at 15:00 in the Ballsporthalle. Frankfurt had a positive record against the Dragons this season, winning both games. "I had no real preference of who our opponent would be. Gießen would have been an uncomfortable opponent , but it would have been great for the fans. We will have to endure the long journey to Quakenbrück", expressed Bernd Kruel.
However, before the playoffs start, the OPEL SKYLINERS will have some other business on their agenda. Next weekend is the Top Four in Frankfurt. After losing in last years final, Frankfurt is really hungry to win its second cup title after 2000. Center Kruel thinks the loss to Leverkusen will have little effect on the Top Four next weekend. "We will forget this loss as quickly as possible. We will watch video and correct our mistakes and focus on the Top Four. We wanted to beat Leverkusen, but now we hope to win two games next weekend." Coach Didin was very unhappy after the loss in Leverkusen, but he has a special message to all the OPEL SKYLINERS fans: "There were many fans in Leverkusen and I am sorry that we lost. We owe our fans a strong performance in the Top Four this weekend. We will work extra hard this week preparing for the Top Four, working especially on our defensive rebounding. I think we will celebrate a cup win next weekend in Frankfurt."
There is absolutely nothing wrong with being confident and motivated to win games. Frankfurt has two very strong positive statistics going in their favor: First, they have an extremely powerful and dedicated homecrowd behind them and they have a positive record of 5-0 when they are shown live on Premiere. The BBL season is over and now the OPEL SKYLINERS must really prove that they are made of champions. It won´t be easy, but the team has a good moral and there is something very special about this team, that hopefully will come to full shape in May and June.
Miles Schmidt-Scheuber reporting for the OPEL SKYLINERS
