The OPEL SKYLINERS take a short rest from BBL play and meet Schröno Paderborn in a quarterfinal game in German cup action. It seems that Frankfurt has received the easiest opponent in the quarterfinals, since Schröno Paderborn is in the 2nd Bundesliga. All other pairings in the quarterfinals has BBL teams facing one another. This game will surely bring back memories to the atmosphere in Quakenbrück. "They have a small gym that will be packed and the environment will not be too friendly. We will have to play our game and execute really well to win", said assistant coach Simon Cote.
Schröno Paderborn plays in the 2nd Bundesliga Nord and is currently in second place and has a realistic chance of being promoted to the BBL. Last weekend, they crushed the Krefeld Panthers 123 to 70 and come into this quarterfinal showdown against the OPEL SKYLINERS prepared as best as possible. "We will really have to be focused, because they will be very motivated to play the defending BBL champion", expressed a cautious Alex King. Schröno Paderborn will be looking to upset another BBL team. They impressively knocked out BS Energy Braunschweig 92 to 80 one round earlier in Cup play.
Schröno Paderborn has a very strong team that has absolutely nothing to loose. They are led by their two American players, guard Tim Black from Richmond, Virginia, who is averaging 25.2 points per game and forward Steve Esterkamp from Ohio, who scored 25 points in the massacre against Krefeld. "They have beaten two BBL teams. Those two are capable of having big nights anytime. We have to take them very seriously", emphasized Simon Cote.
The center position of the OPEL SKYLINERS has had its ups and downs this season. Coach Didin has changed the centers around a lot lately. Against Quakenbrück, Malick Badiane (5.8 points) started and usual starter Bernd Kruel (5.3 points) was switched to backup. Schröno Paderborn has three big capable German centers with Marius Nolte, who is hauling down 9.5 rebounds per game, Karsten Kemna and Julius Dücker, who will be very content in making the play very uncomfortable under the basket for Frankfurt´s big men. Frankfurt also has another alternative in Kavossy Franklin, who had his breakthrough with the OPEL SKYLINERS scoring 26 points against Quakenbrück. His quick transition from the Australian league to the BBL will most likely pay dividends once the playoffs start next month.
Frankfurt has always had positive experiences in the Cup play. They have reached the final four each season, except in 2003 when they were knocked out by Gießen. They won the Cup in their first season 1999/2000 under coach Stefan Koch and reached the final in 2002 and 2004. Should the OPEL SKYLINERS take care of business in Paderborn only BBL teams will await them in the semifinals and finals. On the road to the Cup final as well as to the playoffs, the OPEL SKYLINERS will have to continue to show high level performances like against Quakenbrück.
After the satisfying win in Quakenbrück, the OPEL SKYLINERS only have a few days to prepare for this game. Even though this is a cup game, there won´t be a special way to get ready for this opponent. "We will prepare the same way that we would against a team from the BBL. The most important thing we have to focus on is not being overconfident", stressed Simon Cote. That is always the danger in Cup play when a higher ranked division team (OPEL SKYLINERS, 1st BBL) plays a lower ranked divison team (Schröno Paderborn, 2nd BBL). In the German Bundesliga (Soccer) it is hardly a surprise when Bayern Munich (first league champion) loses to Alemania Aachen (second division). "Cup play is different from BBL and Euroleague play. We can´t underestimate them. Many will think this will be an easy game for us, but we can´t think like that. We need to play with the same intensity that we do against BBL teams. If we don´t do this, then it will be a long journey home after the game", said Alex King. The OPEL SKYLINERS face off against Schröno Paderborn on Wednesday at 20:00. It will not be an easy task since the OPEL SKYLINERS will play in the small Sportcenter Maspernplatz, where it will be very loud and very unfriendly.
Miles Schmidt-Scheuber reporting for the OPEL SKYLINERS
