“We fended off this ball from heaven”
Everyone in Chemnitz was proud of the basketball fairytale in the 25th year of the club’s history, also because it no longer looked like a triumph. At halftime the Niners were down by 17 points, came back and lost another advantage. In overtime, the “big men” were missing after fouls – and yet the Niners were able to celebrate because Istanbul‘s last throw didn’t fall.
Managing director Steffen Herhold had a supernatural explanation for this; he was thinking of the loved ones who could no longer support coach Rodrigo Pastore, playmaker DeAndre Lansdowne or himself in Istanbul, but were somehow there.
I am grateful that I can experience this. It was one of the hardest basketball games.
Steffen Herhold, Managing Director of Niners Chemnitz
“Rodrigo’s mom, my dad, Drea’s mom – there were so many people there today who defended this ball from heaven today,” said Herhold, who was extremely scarred after the game but also extremely proud. “I’m happy, I’m happy, the emotions are so indescribable, it was so intense. I’m grateful that I got to experience that. It was one of the hardest basketball games.”