Tournaments
Berlin 2019
From all Basketball tournaments Berlin is our favourite, nowhere else have we competed more often. We won a complete set of medals there. When the Berliners invited us back to the tournament this year after a 2-year break, it was clear that we would go again. As the majority of our best players were travelling with us and we weren't too short-staffed with 8 players, our expectations were high: to get to the semi-finals and then let's see!
The start was against one of three teams from Paris - They were a little uncomfortable, but ultimately surprisingly harmless and so the 28:17 victory was won with aplomb. The not entirely well thought-out game plan then gave us a four-game break. During this time, we were able to watch our next opponents, but by the start of our second game, our bodies were back in rest mode, especially those of us who hadn't slept as much the first night in Berlin.
The second opponent was Prelude Berlina strong team that also plays in the league. Our plan was therefore to only field our best players. But it soon became clear that we had no chance against this team today! We played very unsettled and somewhat haphazardly at times. The opposing team gave us a hard time. Berlin shifted down a gear in the second half of the game and the result was 25:29. Fortunately, our next opponents were the somewhat easier Amsterdam Tigers Red, against whom we always win. The final score of 27:6 was clear.
After this game, it was quickly calculated that the semi-finals were still possible if we could also win our next game against the London Knights win. In a very tough, physical and low-scoring game (1:0 in our favour after 5 minutes!!!), more points were scored due to fouls than baskets. Shortly before the end of the game, we were trailing 12:15 and were awarded three points due to a foul and a technical foul. Extra time was within our grasp. However, just seconds later, London scored the 15:17 winner with a fast break.
Immediately afterwards, we played in the semi-finals for places 5 to 8 against Amsterdam Tigers Black. The 27:20 victory was commanding and never in danger. Finally, we faced Paris White. We played the first few minutes almost level, but a few small mistakes on our side gave them a slight lead. After a time-out, they surprised us with a series of 3-point goals, while our attacks were fruitless. At half-time, victory was a long way off. We wanted to at least get closer in the second 10 minutes. Overall, we managed to play better, but we still lost by a clear 15:27. In keeping with our disappointing 6th place, we ended the evening at an equally disappointing Italian restaurant (with cheesy grotto decorations), but we were able to quickly regain our good mood and enjoy the last evening in a cheerful atmosphere.
Amsterdam 2019
This year, the Tijgertjes from Amsterdam once again invited us to a basketball tournament, conveniently located on the Friday before Canal Pride, Amsterdam's floating CSD parade. After a long break from the tournament, there were enough people willing to play so that we were able to put together a Munich team (with the support of 2 players who had travelled individually). So Team Munich was represented in Amsterdam for the second time after 2012.
With an average age of 45, the sporting expectations for this tournament were not too high. Our goal was to beat Amsterdam (who we had never lost to before), avoid last place and score 20 points per game. Fortunately, we met the Amsterdam Tigers Black in our first game and beat them 23:21 in a thrilling match - so we had already achieved our first goal! We started the next game against Cacti Tel Aviv with great motivation. The first half was still quite balanced and we were only slightly behind at 15:17. In the second half of the game, we were no longer able to keep up and were beaten 20:31.
The tight schedule did not allow us a break, we had to play Gstar Madrid "House of Falete" directly afterwards and surprisingly won the game with a narrow 24:21. The game was only decided in the last few minutes in favour of the only German team. This ensured that we would not be the last-placed team. Goal two achieved.
Very satisfied, we went into the well-earned lunch break and helped ourselves to the sumptuous buffet. Perhaps we ate a little too much, with tired bodies and sluggish muscles we went into the last group games. The defeats of 22:31 against Entre2Basket Paris and immediately afterwards 21:44 against London Knights Abundance were clear and justified. Now, after a break, the final game was about 7th place in the field of 11 teams. Our captain André promised us a round of beer if we won this game. And so we fought hard to score 20 points against London Knight Evangelista, defended well and only conceded 16 points. 7th place was secured and we had achieved our final goal of 20 points per game! Team Munich finished the tournament with three wins and three losses in a happy 7th place out of 11 teams.
The promised free beer tasted marvellous and in the evening there was plenty of partying in the Amsterdam bars and the Canal pride could be enjoyed in a relaxed manner. Side note: For the first time in a European gay basketball tournament, there was no final because the players from Madrid "La Veneno" did not play against Swingmen Tel Aviv International. A player from Tel Aviv had been too aggressive and threatening in the run-up to the game, so the Spaniards refused to play the final. The organisers awarded first place to both teams.
