ratiopharm Ulm delivered a defensive masterclass, defeating ALBA Berlin 74-62 in Game 2 of the BBL playoff quarterfinals on May 21, 2025, at the Mercedes-Benz Arena, securing a 2-0 series lead with two match points. Ulm surged ahead early, forcing four turnovers in the first 3.5 minutes and holding ALBA to five points in five minutes, leading 47-27 at halftime after a 16:0 run in the second quarter (25-9). Despite ALBA’s 14:0 run in the fourth to close the gap to 61:54, Philipp Herkenhoff’s back-to-back threes and Justinian Jessup’s midrange jumper with 76 seconds left sealed the win, continuing Ulm’s playoff dominance over ALBA, as seen in their 2023 upset.
Ben Saraf led Ulm with 15 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists despite four turnovers, while Herkenhoff added 11 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals, crucially halting ALBA’s late surge. ALBA’s point guards struggled under Ulm’s pressure—Martin Hermannsson scored 12 points on 11 shots, and Will McDowell-White went scoreless in 11:39—while Justin Bean fought with 12 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 steals. Ulm forced 18 turnovers, leading to 18 fast-break points (18:5), and held ALBA to 14.8% from three, echoing their defensive prowess from Game 1’s 23 forced turnovers. Malte Delow hit two threes, reaching 151 career triples.
With the series at 2-0, Ulm returns to the ratiopharm arena for Game 3 on Saturday, where the second seed (24-10 regular season) is unbeaten in their last 11 home games since December 14, 2024, aiming for a sweep. ALBA, the seventh seed (19-15), missing Matteo Spagnolo and Louis Olinde, faces elimination despite 8,182 fans, including Franz Wagner, cheering them on. Ulm’s balanced attack—five players scoring between 10-15 points in both games—underscores their depth, a hallmark of their 2020 NBBL title team. The series promises more intensity as ALBA fights to survive.
