By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Niners Chemnitz made their debut in the Basketball Champions League with high hopes after claiming the 2023-24 FIBA Europe Cup trophy. However, in their first away game in the competition, they couldn’t handle Bertram Derthona’s home crowd support: the Italian side won 87-81.
After scoring 21.5 points per game over two appearances against the Niners Chemnitz from last year with RASTA Vechta, Tommy Kuhse gave problems once again to the Germans. He led Derthona to victory with a team-high 22 points and 9 rebounds over 8/16 from the field. Arturs Strautins added 16+9.
The American playmaker is linking up a good connection with French rim dominator Ismael Kamagate, who’s entering his second Basketball Champions League campaign with the Italians. He had a good contribution close to the basket with 14 points and 9 rebounds.
On the German side, Finnish power forward Olivier Nkamhoua came off the bench to provide 19 points and 6 rebounds; the experienced DeAndre Lansdowne, already in the Basketball Champions League for several years with SIG Strasbourg, contributed with 14 points and 6 assists.
Despite this being only the first game of the season, Derthona now stands on top of Group G, waiting for BAXI Manresa and SL Benfica to finish their other encounter, the last one of Gameday 1.
Postgame press conference
PHOTO CREDIT: Basketball Champions League