ALBA downs Ulm in all-German battle for seventh place

U18 ALBA Berlin picked up its first victory at the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Munich by beating fellow German side U18 ratiopharm Ulm 59-81 to grab seventh place. Hao Dai led ALBA with 17 points while Erik Penteker scored 11 points and Vincent Dubbeldam chipped in 10 points and 7 rebounds. Ulm, which was winless in the tournament, was paced by Aleksa Bulajic with 13 points and 5 assists and Andrija Grbovic with 11 points.

Ulm opened the game with the first 3 points and Tjark Lademacher hit a three-pointer for ALBA to even the game for the first time at 7-7. The lead switched hands three times before Christoph Tilly made it 11-14 for ALBA. Ulm tied the game twice more and it was 16-16 after 10 minutes. The game remained tight throughout the second quarter with Moritz Heck hitting a triple for a 23-20 Ulm advantage. Penteker knocked down a three at the other end to put ALBA back ahead 23-25. Dai scored 4 points as ALBA built a 27-32 lead, but the game was tied 34-34 at the break. ALBA started to take control a bit in the second half even though Bulajic made it 38-39. Penteker and Evans Rapieque both knocked down triples in a 5-18 ALBA run to take a 43-57 advantage. Thomas Gaus came up with a three-point play at the other end, nonetheless, ALBA led 49-63 after 30 minutes. Rapiegue and Dai both drained threes as the cushion grew to 55-74. Penteker added yet another triple late for the winners to seal the outcome.