GER - Bamberg beat Koln for Champions Cup

BAMBERG (Champions Cup) - Reigning German BBL league winners Brose Baskets Bamberg collected the first title of the 2007-08 season by beating German Cup holders Koln 99ers 70-51 to win the Champions Cup.

Playing two days before the BBL season officially tips off, Tim Ohlbrecht paced Bamberg with 12 points off the bench while Darren Fenn and German national team star Ademola Okulaja each added 10 points.

Koln, who were led by 11 points from Aleksandar Nadjfeji and 10 by Milko Bjelica, led 35-30 at the break in Bamberg. But Sasa Obradovic's team fell apart in the second half.

Bamberg, which is coached by German national team boss Dirk Bauermann and includes four top national team members, woke up after the break and used a 25-8 run out of the locker-room to open a 55-43 gap.

The German champions shot 65% from the field for the game and off-set a 35-19 rebounding deficit by forcing 35 Koln turnovers while committing only 16.

“The games against Koln are always good for a miracle. This is the first time we lost on the boards with just 19 and still won the game by 19 points,” said Bauermann.

“The key to the victory was that we found our rhythm on defense in the second half and had some great play from the bench.”

Bamberg start the defense of their crown at home against EWE Baskets Oldenburg on Sunday and Koln travel to EnBW Ludwigsburg.

FIBA