MANILA: In a thrilling turn of events at the Basketball World Cup, Germany and Serbia emerged victorious in the semi-finals, setting the stage for an epic final showdown, while the United States and Canada faced heartbreak.
The United States, eager to make amends for their seventh-place finish in the previous tournament, were dealt a stunning 113-111 defeat by a spirited German team in Manila. Germany displayed remarkable determination throughout the game, securing their spot in their first-ever World Cup final, scheduled for Sunday.
Head coach Gordon Herbert commended his team as a “special group” but emphasized they had not achieved their ultimate goal yet. “This group of players wants to win gold,” he declared. “One more to go. We’ll let the players enjoy this tonight, and tomorrow morning when we wake up, this is over.”
Andreas Obst, a constant thorn in the side of the Americans, led Germany with 24 points. Franz Wagner (22 points) and Daniel Theis (21 points) also made significant contributions.
The turning point for the United States came in the third quarter, as crucial errors by Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson allowed Germany to establish a six-point lead. Germany capitalized on this advantage, and Dennis Schroder’s shot extended their lead to 10 points at the end of the third quarter.
US head coach Steve Kerr acknowledged that his team had struggled to assert themselves defensively. “I thought we made some mistakes,” he admitted. “It sounds crazy, but the first offensive rebound of the game, we got boxed out. Right from the beginning, you’ve got to set a tone.”
Anthony Edwards emerged as the leading scorer for the United States with 23 points, followed by Austin Reaves (21 points) and Mikal Bridges (17 points).
The United States suffered their second defeat of the tournament, having previously lost to Lithuania in the second round. In contrast, Germany remains undefeated, with center Johannes Voigtmann emphasizing their opportunity to achieve something historic in the upcoming final.
Serbia will be their opponent after defeating Canada 95-86 in the day’s first semi-final. Bogdan Bogdanovic delivered another standout performance for Serbia, contributing 23 points, three assists, and four rebounds.
Serbia Ready to Face Germany
Although Serbia lost in their only previous final appearance as an independent country in 2014, shooting guard Marko Guduric expressed their readiness to play “the biggest game of our lives” against Germany. He spoke of the honor of representing their country and the importance of the upcoming final.
Serbia asserted control of the game in the first half against a Canadian team making their first-ever World Cup semi-final appearance. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a key player for Canada, struggled to find his rhythm and finished with only 15 points.
Serbia’s head coach, Svetislav Pesic, praised his team for their successful efforts in limiting Gilgeous-Alexander’s impact. He described it as a challenging task but one they accomplished with great success.
Canada had already secured an Olympic qualifying spot for the Paris Olympics, finishing as one of the two highest-placed teams from the Americas. Although they missed out on the final, they still have the opportunity to claim their first-ever World Cup medal.
In Sunday’s third-fourth-place playoff, Canada will face the United States, a prospect that excites head coach Jordi Fernandez. He stressed the importance of building the program and leaving the tournament with a thirst for future success.
