A few stubbles are growing on the upper lip, otherwise Louis Olinde's boyish face is smooth.

"I do my best for a play-off beard," he reveals: "But nothing sprout on the side." What he otherwise gives in the play-offs for the German basketball championship can go far for Alba Berlin.

Olinde contributed 24 points to the 100:76 win over MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg on Sunday evening, his team's second semi-final victory.

With a success in the third game, Berlin can reach the final series on Friday.

Michael Reinsch

Correspondent for sports in Berlin.

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The sparse beard growth is a reminder of how young Olinde still is: 24 years old since March.

He turned professional in Bamberg six years ago and came from his hometown of Hamburg to a team that caused a sensation in the Euroleague with Nikos Zisis and Fabien Causeur, Nicolò Melli, Jānis Strēlnieks and Darius Miller, in which his current teammate Maodo Lo made his first steps on the international stage as a set-up player, and in which Augustine Rubit and Leon Radošević played, who, like coach Andrea Trinchieri, are now in action for German rivals Bayern Munich, who are expected to play in the final.

A team in which Daniel Theis from Salzgitter recommended himself for a career in the NBA, which has just taken him to the finals with the Boston Celtics.

Professional modesty

Olinde built a reputation as a solid defender.

Its length of 2.05 meters allows it to survive under the basket.

He is the opposite of the humorless terrier: Olinde likes to laugh and he laughs a lot.

On Sunday he was in a particularly good mood as he showed the level of maturity he had gained in Berlin.

He hit five times from six distance shots, scored three more baskets spectacularly from close range, made three goals from three free throws and picked up five rebounds.

In twenty minutes playing time.

The team effort was great, Olinde commented with professional modesty, and when asked that the 24 points was his career best, he replied: "This is just one day."

The name Olinde has had a good reputation in the Bundesliga since 1977 when a 22-year-old student named Wilbert Olinde came to Göttingen from San Diego, stayed and became German champion three times with the club, Louis' father.

“A legend”, as the son has learned.

The junior seems to be able to do without this status.

Like Theis and Maxi Kleber, he wants to switch from the Euroleague to the NBA, he reveals.

Every now and then the Phoenix Suns would ask how he was doing.

Perhaps Louis Olinde took a step towards fulfilling a dream on Sunday.