ratiopharm Ulm completed a 3-0 sweep over ALBA Berlin with a 93-84 victory in Game 3 of the BBL playoff quarterfinals on May 24, 2025, at a sold-out ratiopharm arena, advancing to the semifinals to face the winner of Braunschweig vs. Würzburg. ALBA led 45-43 at halftime after a 24-20 first quarter, but Ulm, driven by 6,000 fans, surged in the fourth with a 31-17 run, overcoming a brief ALBA lead in the third quarter sparked by Yanni Wetzell (per Sportschau.de). This win marks Ulm’s second playoff sweep over ALBA in three years, following their 2023 upset (per ratiopharmulm.com), and extends their home unbeaten streak to 11 games since December 14, 2024.
Marcio Santos led Ulm with 23 points, dominating his matchup with ALBA’s Wetzell (13 points), while 18-year-old Ben Saraf shone with 20 points, 7 assists, and 4 rebounds, earning Player of the Game honors (per easycredit-bbl.de). Ulm capitalized on 42 free-throw attempts (34 makes) compared to ALBA’s 13 (11 makes), despite Berlin’s higher field goal attempts (64 vs. 51). ALBA’s Malte Delow scored 15 points, reaching 151 career threes (per prior recap), and Wetzell hit milestones with his 400th BBL free throw and rebound. Ulm’s offensive firepower and home strength, losing just one league game at home this season (per ratiopharmulm.com), proved decisive.
Ulm, the 2023 German champions, now awaits the winner of the Braunschweig vs. Würzburg series, which Würzburg leads 1-1 (per prior recaps), while ALBA’s season ends after coach Pedro Calles’ fifth straight 0-3 playoff exit (per easycredit-bbl.de). Despite the return of Louis Olinde and Matteo Spagnolo, ALBA couldn’t overcome Ulm’s depth, though Spagnolo didn’t play, and Ulm missed Thomas Klepeisz and Isaiah Roby. Concerns linger for Ulm as Philipp Herkenhoff exited with an injury, but their form—highlighted by their 2020 NBBL title legacy (per ratiopharmulm.com)—makes them a formidable semifinal contender.
Posted on May 24, 2025
