Izuchukwu Okosi
Germany sent shock waves Friday afternoon at the 2023 FIBA Men’s Basketball World Cup as they defeated heavyweights and title favourites USA, 113-111, in the second semi finals of the tournament.
Germany bouyed by the inspiring form of their NBA star duo of Franz Wagner and Daniel Thei ensured that the Americans will be denied gold at the World Cup for a second consecutive time.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe Americans will settle for playing for bronze on Sunday against Canada, who lost to Serbia in the day’s other semifinal.
The U.S. played a spirited and aggressive game but their relative small physical attributes counted against them and showed up as it did against Lithuania last weekend in the event’s previous loss.
For the first time under coach Steve Kerr, in the Dream Team era, the U.S. roster includes zero All-NBA players and nobody who has previous Olympic or world experience.
Meanwhile, Serbia’s earlier win against Canada, 95-86 has returned them to the FIBA World Cup final after a nine-year absence.
The win also advances them to their second-ever FIBA World Cup final with a victory over Canada in Manila
It was the Atlanta Hawks’ Bogdan Bogdanovic that led the way with 23 points, his sixth straight game with at least 15 points, and Nikola Milutinovic added a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Serbia last reached the final in 2014, when they were thumped 129-92 by USA.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
