Germany secured a monumental win at the FIBA Basketball World Cup, prevailing over a shorthanded Serbia with a score of 83-77 in a nail-biting contest held in Manila.
The pivotal moment of the match unfolded during the third quarter when Germany orchestrated a remarkable 22-10 surge, led by the exceptional Wagner brothers, Franz and Moritz.
Dennis Schroder, who earned the title of Most Valuable Player for the tournament, played a crucial role in Germany’s triumph by delivering an impressive 28 points, far surpassing his average of 17.9 points per game.
Throughout the World Cup, Schroder maintained averages of 17.6 points, 6.1 assists, and 2 rebounds, but he truly shone with a game-high 28 points in the final.
Franz Wagner contributed 19 points and seven rebounds, while Johannes Voigtmann added 12 points and eight rebounds to solidify Germany’s victory.
On the Serbian side, Aleksa Avramovic led the scoring charts with 21 points, and Bogdan Bogdanovic contributed 17 points and five assists.
However, Nikola Milutinov struggled, failing to make any of his four attempts and ending the game with just two points and four assists.
Germany’s remarkable journey saw them emerge victorious in all eight of their tournament games, a feat not accomplished since 2006.
This achievement also marked them as the first team to secure a FIBA World Cup title in their inaugural appearance in the final.
While this victory brought jubilation to Germany, it was another heartbreaking loss for Serbia, reminiscent of their defeat to the United States in the 2014 final. Nevertheless, Serbia displayed resilience and improvement from their quarter-final exit in 2019.
At halftime, the score was tied at 47, but Germany surged ahead in the third quarter, establishing a 12-point lead that they maintained until the final buzzer.
In the bronze-medal match, Canada achieved their first-ever World Cup podium finish by triumphing over a short-handed United States team in an exhilarating overtime match, with a final score of 127-118.
Dillon Brooks, who is set to join the Houston Rockets next season, led Canada with an impressive tournament-high 39 points, earning MVP chants from the enthusiastic crowd.
The 19th edition of the FIBA Basketball World Cup, co-hosted by the Philippines, Indonesia, and Japan, reached its conclusion with two thrilling matches, setting a new attendance record with 38,115 spectators at the opening game.
As the basketball world rejoices in the excitement of this unforgettable tournament, all eyes are now focused on Qatar, the host of the next World Cup in 2027.
READ MORE: FIFA 2023 International Transfer Report Reveals Record-Breaking Year
