RSB Thuringia Bulls win back-to-back Champions League titles

Germany’s RSB Thuringia Bulls were crowned champions of IWBF Europe’s Champions League for the second year running on Saturday 4^th May.

The top four clubs in Europe battled it out for the Champions League title in the deciding weekend at the AQUA ZDRÓJ in Wałbrzych, Poland, the same venue which is set to host the 2019 Men’s European Championship later this year.

As they did last year, The Bulls played German rival RSV Lahn-Dill in the semi-final, this year comfortably defeating them, 78-49.

In the other semi-final, Spain’s CD Ilunion saw off their fellow Spanish rival Amiab Albacete, 74-58, to set-up a repeat of last year’s Champions League Final.

The final was a thrilling encounter. Despite trailing by five points at the end of the first quarter, 14-9, Thuringia brought the game back in the second quarter, only for an unsportsmanlike foul just before the break allowing Bill Latham the chance to edge the Spaniards ahead at half-time, 31-34. The third quarter belonged to the Germans as they stormed the period winning 26-8 and taking a 15-point advantage into the final ten minutes. An advantage that only just proved enough, as CD Ilunion fought back in the fourth to bring the game to just three points with 33 seconds left to play. With the Spanish team in possession, Thuringia’s Matt Scott managed to force a turnover and capitalised to push the score out to five, and despite Terry Bywater making a huge three-point shot on the buzzer, it was not to be enough as RSB Thuringia Bulls took the title by just two points, 71-69.

RE-WATCH THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL

https://www.facebook.com/sportowywalbrzych/videos/177022046538397/

In the 3^rd/4^th play-off RSV Lahn-Dill defeated Amiab Albacete 81-64.

Images courtesy of Polish Wheelchair Basketball Team.