Alba Berlin: Kader conversion and financial turn to Playoff-out!

Alba Berlin: Kader conversion and financial turn to Playoff-out!

After a disappointing spring that ended with leaving the playoffs, Alba Berlin is facing a challenging season. The decisive squad break, which must be initiated, is designed against the background of a falling budget and the final farewell from the Euroleague. In this situation, sports director Himar Ojeda sees both challenges and opportunities to put together a better balanced squad. As reports RBB24, the squad is expected to be reduced to 12 players.

A highlight of the upheaval is the farewell to Tim Schneider, who leaves the colors of Alba Berlin after 14 years and 477. In addition, the team will have to measure themselves against clubs in the Eurocup and the Champions League in upcoming competitions, which further complicates the situation. "We decided to rethink the structure of our squad to achieve the best possible performance," said Ojeda, who has headed the club's sporting skills since 2016 and was able to celebrate three German championships and three cup wins during this time.

budget decays and sporting challenges

The financial framework is tense. Managing Director Marco Baldi emphasizes that high rental costs and falling ticket revenues will significantly reduce the budget for the next season. "Our budget will shrink by several million euros, which makes the commitment of well -known players difficult," said Baldi. Meanwhile, five German talents, including Elias Rapieque, decided for a career of US colleges, which the already tense resources further strained.

HIMAR OJEDA also expressed concerns about the slowness of market events; Many main players are currently exploring their options and could leave the club. The continuing difficulties in the Euroleague strengthen the uncertainties in the team that was neither successful in the playoff race nor in other competitions last season. Characterized by injuries and an departure of Head Coach Israel Gonzalez, Pedro Calles will now support the figureheads as the new trainer, while Ojeda hopes to determine 80 percent of the squad for the new season by the end of July.

Future views and goals

Alba Berlin wants to establish itself in basketball in the long term and plans to build a core team for future success. The budget for player salaries has risen by two million euros since entering the Euroleague 2019, but the challenge is to keep talented players and at the same time find the right balance in the squad. "We want to carefully design our infrastructure and growth," emphasizes Ojeda, who is trying to take a permanent Euroleague license, while the club is currently dependent on wildcards and seasonal invitations.

In the context of the current challenges, Ojeda takes a stand on the financial discrepancy in the Euroleague and the competition for talents, especially in view of the NBA. "It is important to understand your own situation and not to emulate other role models blind path," explains Ojeda. His goal remains to lead Alba Berlin into a stable and competitive future despite the difficulties, while he continues to see interesting players on the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas to win new talents.