GER - Obradovic set to extend deal with RheinEnergie Koln

BERLIN (Bundesliga) - Everything looks set for reigning German champions RheinEnergie Koln to extend their contract with former World and European champion Sasa Obradovic as coach - apparently until 2009.

All parties involved have made public in recent days that Obradovic and the club have agreed on a new deal with only the final details left to be worked out.

"We recently had a long discussion and agreed with a hand shake," Putz told the Cologne daily Kolner Express.

"We would like to keep Sasa with us long term. We will clear up the final details in the coming days and then sign on the deal."

"I haven't signed yet, but it will come soon. We've agreed other than a few details," Obradovic said in Cologne newspapers.

Club sporting director Stephan Baeck said both sides have agreed to a two-year extension to 2009.

Koln have long said they want to keep the former Yugoslav superstar in their ranks. But Obradovic has numerous times stressed the importance of the club increasing their budget in order to play among the best of the Europe as well as the necessity of building a new, larger arena.

Koln were clearly under-manned in the Euroleague this season, winning just two of 14 games and finishing last in Group A.

And because the team's Energy Dome only holds around 3,000 fans, RheinEnergie were forced to play their home Euroleague games in nearby Dusseldorf. But the club is planning to build a new basketball arena in Cologne's northern suburbs.

Obradovic helped lead Yugoslavia to the gold medal at the 1998 World Championship and captured three European championship crowns - in 1995, 1997 and 2001.

With Obradovic, Yugoslavia also captured silver at the 1996 Olympics and bronze at the 1999 European championship.

The 38-year-old has become the face of the Cologne club, playing the final four seasons of his active career along the Rhine River. In his season as a coach, Obradovic led RheinEnergie to the BBL title last season. And the club is currently tied for second place in the BBL this season.

Obradovic also served as an assistant coach for Serbia at the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan.

Alba Berlin, RheinEnergie Koln cruise into Cup quarter-finals

Title-holders Alba Berlin and two-time winners RheinEnergie Koln each cruised into the quarter-finals of the German Cup with convincing victories.

Sharrod Ford and William Avery each had 16 points and Julius Jenkins added 15 as Berlin man-handled Deutsche Bank Skyliners 83-49 at home.

Berlin, who have won five German Cup crowns, forced their Frankfurt opponents into 23 turnovers while holding them to 30% shooting (15 of 50) for the night.

Jimmy McKinney had a team-high nine points for the Skyliners, who fell behind 17-8 after one period and were never in the game thereafter.

"We played a lot more intensive than we did in Oldenburg," said Berlin's recent quard acquisition Kirk Penney, referring to Alba's disappointing weekend loss at Oldenburg.

"But I need some more time," added the New Zealand international, who scored seven points on a poor shooting night.

The reigning league champions and 2004 and 2005 Cup winners RheinEnergie Koln also advanced into the quarter-finals with a 79-65 victory at Karlsruhe.

Playing without Ronald Burrell und Mladjen Sljivancanin, Devin Green's 21 points led four Koln scorers in double figures while Guido Grunheid had 10 points, eight rebounds and four steals.

"We're happy with the victory because it keeps us in the competition. And we can build upon this performance. Most of the time we played very solid, but at times not aggressive enough," Koln sporting director Stephan Baeck said.

Karlsruhe, who have lost 16 straight games in the BBL and sit in last place, trailed just 61-58 with seven minutes to go before Koln finally showed their dominance. Sasa Obradovic's team used a 10-0 run to open a 77-61 lead to secure the win.

Dominic Jones led Karlsruhe with 15 points.

The other quarter-finalists are BBL league leaders Ludwidsburg, Artland Dragons, Eisbaren Bremerhaven, Oldenburg as well as promoted sides Ulm and Paderborn,

The draw for the March 28 quarter-finals will take place on March 4 at the BBL game between RheinEnergie Koln and Alba Berlin.

In other German basketball action, 2005 BBL champions Brose Baskets Bamberg missed a chance to pull closer to the league leaders as Dirk Bauermann's team lost 64-63 at home to Telekom Baskets Bonn.

John Bowler gave Bonn the 64-63 lead on a jumper with 1:13 to play. And Bamberg's Darren Fenn missed a three-pointer to win the game at the buzzer.

Bowler led Bonn with 16 points while Jason Gardner had 15 points and Jason Conley added 12.

Bamberg sharpshooter Casey Jacobsen led all scorers with 20 points with Fenn and Chris Ensminger each chipping in 12 points and combining for 15 rebounds.

Fourth-placed Bonn won their fourth straight game to improve to 15-7 and move to within 2.5 games of leaders Ludwigsburg.

Bamberg are now 11-8 in eighth place with two games in hand. But within the past 10 days, Bamberg have now lost two home games by one point against teams fighting for top play-off positions - also losing to fifth-placed Artland Dragons.

Bamberg announced earlier in the day that they had acquired American play-maker Sean Dockery.

In other news, Artland Dragons coach Chris Fleming was banned for the team's next game against New Yorker Phantoms Braunschweig and fined 1,500 euros.

The American coach was ejected from Artland's game against Ludwigsburg last weekend for "unsportsmanlike conduct" towards an official.

David Hein
FIBA