Andreas Obst's 33 points lift Bayern Munich past Alba Berlin in Finals opener

Obst's 33-point night

Andreas Obst, recovering from a severe infection, delivered a Gala performance with 33 points to lead FC Bayern Munich's basketball team over Alba Berlin 102-94 in Game 1. Obst hit five of six three-point attempts and all four two-pointers in a first-half outburst of 24 points, powering Munich to a 58-55 lead at the break.

Tense seesaw battle

Munich fell behind early, trailing by six at the start, before coach Svetislav Pesic's timeout scolding sparked a comeback that tied the game at 27-27 after the first quarter. Berlin surged again after halftime with a 15-2 run to lead 70-60, only for the hosts to answer with a 19-6 burst and take a 79-76 edge into the fourth. In the final period, Munich pulled away, and a late steal by Obst led to a Justus Hollatz dunk that made it 100-92, effectively sealing the win.

Series outlook and Pesic's farewell

The victory gives Bayern a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five finals series, with Game 2 set for Sunday at 15:30 in Munich's SAP Garden. The series then shifts to Berlin for up to two games. The matchup marks the seventh time these two clubs meet in the BBL finals, a league record. For 76-year-old Pesic, who coached Alba to four consecutive titles in the late 1990s, this series is his last as he plans to retire this summer.

“Games against Alba are always something special.”

Notable attendees

Germany football international Lennart Karl, sidelined from the World Cup by injury, watched from the stands and saw Obst's 33-point outburst. On Berlin's side, Norris Agbakoko led with 21 points.