Niners Chemnitz win Fiba Europe Cup: Managing Director sees German basketball on the rise

Managing Director Stefan Holz sees Niners Chemnitz's international title win as another German step towards the European elite. "It's great for the league that we have a European Cup winner for the second year in a row. It shows the increased status. It fits into the picture of recent years. That's good, it fits," Holz told the German Press Agency.

The Niners clinched victory in the Fiba Europe Cup on Wednesday evening in a thrilling game at Bahcesehir Istanbul despite losing after overtime (95:105) after winning the first leg 85:74 in their own arena. Telekom Baskets Bonn had won the Champions League last season. Previously, Alba Berlin (1993), the Syntainics MBC from Weißenfels (2004), BG Göttingen (2010) and the Fraport Skyliners from Frankfurt (2016) had won European titles for Germany.

"It's another sign of the development of the clubs and German basketball. It all fits quite well. You can't become world champions every year, but we've arrived among the top basketball nations in Europe," said Holz. Led by captain Dennis Schröder, the national team won the first World Cup title in German history last summer, beating top favorites USA in Manila.