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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Marquee showdown as Serbia, Canada tangle; US, Germany collide

Marquee showdown as Serbia, Canada tangle; US, Germany collide

Published Sep 8, 2023 02:33 am

At A Glance

  • A pair of marquee semifinal duels that will determine the two best teams in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup is set on Friday, Sept. 8, at the Mall of Asia Arena.

A pair of marquee semifinal duels that will determine the two best teams in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup is set on Friday, Sept. 8, at the Mall of Asia Arena.

 

mo wagner.jpg
Mo Wagner has been playing superb for Germany (FIBA photo)


 

Germany stakes its perfect run so far in the global showpiece against the mighty and fancied Team USA while first-time semifinalist Canada tangles against the perennial contender Serbia.

Bogdan Bogdanovic and the Eagles try to accomplish what Luka Doncic and Slovenia had failed to do against a stacked Canadian side that is being led by the star duo of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and RJ Barrett in the opening game at 4:45 p.m.

Dennis Schroder and the Germans then take the centerstage against the No.2 ranked Americans in the main event at 8:40 p.m.

Serbia aims to prove that its team is more than just about Bogdanovic alone with guys like Nikola Milutinov and Nikola Jovic looking to get a share of the load if they wish to make it back to the finals and beat the young and inspired Canadians who are starving for more glory after the breakthrough semis stint.

"Like I said before, we are not satisfied. We wanna win gold. We know we gotta take it one step at a time. We play Serbia. They're a really good basketball team. Just play really well. We're gonna try to prepare," said Gilgeous-Alexander

Of course, outside SGA and Barrett, Canada also has plenty of weapons to use with other NBA players in Dillon Brooks, Dwight Powell, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Kelly Olynyk.

In the second game, all eyes are obviously on Team USA which is gunning for a return trip to the finals which it last achieved in 2010 and 2014 – both times it ended up winning. The Americans also made their bid for the title apparent when they dominated Italy, 100-63.

However, Germany is certainly no pushover with Schroder expected to bounce back from a dismal outing in the tight 81-79 victory over Latvia. He finished with just nine points on a 4-of-26 shooting from the field – something that should never happen especially against Team USA.

The Die Mannschaft are also eyeing a piece of history when they also aim for their very first finals appearance in the tournament. Expected to provide solid contributions are the Wagner brothers, Moritz and Franz and NBA big man Daniel Theis.

Related Tags

2023 FIBA World Cup
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