GER - Freak City is title town

BAMBERG (Beko-BBL) - Brose Baskets Bamberg are on top of the German basketball world.

After a dominating season in which the club won 32 of 34 regular season games and also lifted the German Cup, Bamberg won a thrilling five-game series against Alba Berlin to capture the league title.

It's the second Beko-BBL crown in a row and fourth for Bamberg since 2005.

Kyle Hines, a native of Philadelphia, was named MVP of the Beko-BBL Finals.

In the 72-65 title clinching Game 5 win at Bamberg, Hines had 12 points and nine rebounds.

The win set off a huge party in the city that lasted until the early morning hours in the Bamberger Maxplatz with coach Chris Fleming and all of the players going up on a stage and speaking to the fans.

One of them was Hines, who drew a lot of applause when he said: "Right now, I'm going to talk to (general manager) Wolfgang (Heyder) and sign a lifetime contract, about 2020, 2021."

"I am so proud of my team," Fleming said.

The news got even better for Bamberg fans as captain Casey Jacobsen followed up the big party by signing a three-year contract extension.

"I had already told Wolfgang in mid-season that I would love to stay here," Jacobsen said.

"There is no better place for me to play in my basketball career than in Bamberg. I'm from the U.S., which is my home, but the players and The Freak City fans are now also my family."

Fleming said of Jacobsen: "His record speaks for itself. Casey has been in Bamberg for three years and brought five titles. He is a very important figure for us. "

Heyder also spoke of the importance of the 30-year-old captain to the team.

"He is for our program absolutely an important player," Heyder said.

"Because of his will to win, his motivation and his discipline, he is a shining example for our talents in the junior program. I am delighted that it has been possible to have leadership for another three years."

As for Alba, they came very close to having a title-winning season but had to finish as runners-up.

"It was an extremely tight game in which the tiny, little things have been the difference," said Alba's managing director Marco Baldi of Game 5.

"The home advantage is extremely important."

FIBA