© Euroleague
The first home game, the first EuroLeague night at the SAP Garden: After two tough road tests (with one win), Bayern Basketball host Serbian powerhouse Partizan Belgrade on Friday evening (8 p.m.) for their Munich home debut. As usual, the away fans will further fuel the atmosphere, especially since the opponent has started the new season with two wins. Bayern have won three of their five home games against Partizan so far.
“It’s our first game at home in the SAP Garden, and it’s sure to be a great atmosphere again. Partizan always brings its fans, and many Serbs live in Munich,” says national team player Andreas Obst ahead of the showdown in front of 11,500 spectators. “When it’s loud on both sides, it’s fun — it’s not just a basketball game, it’s an event.”
Belgrade’s top scorer Carlik Jones
Partizan won their first two games more or less convincingly. The 92:76 over Milan was followed on Tuesday by an away win in Paris with an almost identical score, 92:79. The Serbian offense is producing reliably, led above all by standout guard Carlik Jones, who has totaled 40 points (50% from three, 7.5 apg, 29.5 PIR). New additions in the backcourt include Luca Vildoza (11.5 ppg), who is averaging five steals per game, and Alessandro Pajola from Bologna (6.5 ppg, 4 apg). In the frontcourt, alongside veteran Tonye Jekiri (11 ppg), Partizan brought back Frenchman Bandja Sy on short notice, with his compatriot Joffrey Lauvergne out injured.
Carlik Jones is the visitors' topscorer | © EuroLeague
“We’re all looking forward to the first home game. They’ve started very well, but for us it’s important to show a different level of physicality after the loss in Istanbul,” explains Bayern head coach Anton Gavel. “Jones runs their entire team; he’ll certainly be in our focus, but we still all have to rebound well together and push them out of their comfort zone.” Andi Obst adds: “We’ve had a solid start to the season, but against Fenerbahce in the last game we didn’t show how we can play. It’ll be a hard-fought game; this time we need to be physical from the start.”
Sunday at BMW Park vs. Oldenburg
On Sunday afternoon, Munich host current league leaders Oldenburg in the easyCredit BBL, who have won their first three games. It’s Family Game Day, tipoff is at 3 p.m.