Bayer Giants receive RheinStars Cologne for Nachbarschaftsduell

The euphoria is felt among Bayer Giants. "I see it at every training," says coach Hansi Gnad. Finally, Leverkusen's basketball players started with four straight wins in the second league season (ProB). On Friday night, the fifth match will be played against the RheinStars Cologne (19.30). Since the Domstädtern probably has several players injured, the chances of the Giants are good.

"Leon Baeck is already out of season," said Gnad. In addition, Tim van der Velde dislocated his finger in the first match. More recently, the Yasin Kolo Center, which has already scored 60 points this season, had to finish the match against Schwenningen prematurely. The Domstädter are a little easier to calculate. "If we deprive them of their badets, we can stay unbeaten," the coach said.

Gnad plays mainly with the American Tucker Haymond. With 21.3 points on average, he is an internal scorer, but also takes a lot of staves. His trio rate is only 23.8%. Grace also warns Silvio Mendes Mateus of France. But this is not yet the case for Cologne, who voluntarily withdrew from ProA ProB weaker after the previous season. Coach Matt Dodson's team started with four losses during the season. "They are in no way over there," Gnad is sure. Significantly, the Cologne were not subject to any game. "This shows once again how balanced the league is."

Therefore, the coach hopes strong support in the Ostermann arena. "Cologne will bring many spectators," said the 55-year-old. "It's not that there's less Leverkusen in the end." The derby character of the encounter should not be underestimated. Even for the returned Dennis Heinzmann, the game is special. Finally, it goes to the Giants Center against his former team. The 27-year-old is convinced of the quality of his new (former) team: "We are appearing as a closed collective and we have proved in recent games that our stature is qualitative."

In the Leverkusenern, the other players always stand out. The balance of the team and the resulting unpredictability have so far been one of Bayer's major strengths. Obviously, Gnad wants to get them and annoys when one of his players is kicked out of the field for lack of discipline. Ron Mvouika was the last to win the 84:68 derby in Rhöndorf because he had discussed with the referees. "We had a conversation with Tacheles during the week," said Gnad. "But I know how fast such a thing can happen, but it should not happen again."

More than sport, the gift of the cup. Whoever does not bring back the pledge for his cup, but donates, it helps the mountains of Noah. The former basketball player of the Dresden Titans was seriously injured in a road accident and will undoubtedly need help forever. "We are all shocked by the terrible crash of Noah Berge and think about him, his family and friends, and for us it goes without saying that we can support you in this way from afar," said the head of the department. Frank Rothweiler.