Phoenix Hagen Clinches Promotion, Ending Decade-Long Wait for Basketball Bundesliga Return

A Decisive Third Quarter

Eisbären Bremerhaven, who finished fourth in the regular season and also swept their quarterfinal opponent Artland Dragons, had won both regular-season matchups against Phoenix Hagen. The visitors started strong, taking the first quarter 17-16.

Phoenix Hagen responded with a 7-0 run in the second quarter to lead 29-25. Bremerhaven tied the game at 35-35 later in the period, but the hosts carried a 40-35 advantage into halftime.

The third quarter proved decisive. Phoenix Hagen opened with a 6-0 run to take their first double-digit lead at 46-35. Bremerhaven cut the deficit to 49-45, but Devin Schmidt hit a three-pointer to make it 52-45, and Marcus Graves connected from beyond the arc to give Phoenix Hagen a 66-50 lead heading into the final period.

Phoenix Hagen extended their lead in the fourth quarter and never let Bremerhaven back into the game. Bjarne Kraushaar of Phoenix Hagen and Elijah Miller of Eisbären Bremerhaven shared top-scoring honors with 14 points each.

From Insolvency to Promotion

The promotion marks a remarkable turnaround for a club that last played in the Basketball Bundesliga during the 2016/2017 season. Phoenix Hagen filed for insolvency in October 2016, which led the league to revoke the club's license.

The team was subsequently placed in last position in the league table and relegated. In the years following that low point, Phoenix Hagen managed to stabilize financially and rebuild its sporting ambitions.

The return to the BBL comes almost exactly ten years after the club's departure from the top flight. Phoenix Hagen will now face the Kirchheim Knights in the ProA final with the second-division championship on the line.

What Comes Next

The semifinal series against Bremerhaven went the full five games, with Phoenix Hagen ultimately prevailing 3-2. The decisive victory was broadcast on SportEuropeTV and reported by regional broadcaster WDR.

The club's resurgence under coach Chris Harris has been built on consistent performance throughout the season. Finishing atop the regular-season standings demonstrated the team's quality over a long campaign, and the playoff run has now delivered the ultimate reward of promotion.