ALBA Berlin pulled off the biggest upset in German basketball history. In one of the wildest Game 5s ever, the Berliners erased a 20-point deficit to beat FC Bayern 84-81 and claim the BBL championship. The title-clinching win came on the road in Munich, leaving the home crowd in stunned silence.
What happened inside the SAP Garden?
Both teams came out firing. Jonas Mattisseck (ALBA) set the tone early, but the Berlin offense cooled off fast. FC Bayern used the lull to jump ahead 25-20 after the first quarter. The Bavarians stretched the lead to 20 points by halftime (47-27) and looked poised to close the series.
Then everything collapsed. In the third quarter ALBA’s offense ran like clockwork. Mattisseck kept hitting, the Berlin defense turned up the pressure, and suddenly the deficit was down to nine. FC Bayern’s shots stopped falling, their energy vanished, and their game plan disappeared. They lost 24 points in the final two quarters – a nightmare for coach Svetislav Pesic.
How ALBA Berlin engineered the comeback
The Berliners showed nerves of steel. With five minutes left, FC Bayern clung to a four-point lead. Andreas Obst hit a three to cut it further, but 30 seconds from time came the killer foul: a Bayern player sent an ALBA player to the line. The Berliners sank the free throws and sealed the win at the buzzer.
Mattisseck finished with 22 points – his best output of the series. For FC Bayern it was shock and awe. Pesic, who had hoped to send off the home crowd with a championship party, walked into a locker room of disappointment instead.
Why this win changes everything for ALBA Berlin
It’s the first title in 27 years for ALBA Berlin. A victory that writes a new chapter in German basketball history. Their defense, led by Mattisseck and the big men, outmuscled the Bayern attack when it mattered most.
For FC Bayern, it’s a bitter pill. After dominating the early stages of the series, they squandered a 20-point lead in their own building. The question now looms: how could a 20-point cushion evaporate so quickly?
What’s next for both teams?
ALBA Berlin will celebrate the championship – but the season isn’t over. The club has already booked its spot in next season’s Basketball Champions League. FC Bayern must lick its wounds and plot a swift return to the top step.
The full game is available on the ARD Mediathek as a replay. A contest that will be talked about for years – one of the most dramatic finals in BBL history.