Shortly before the Olympics, Germany’s basketball team will have to continue to do without their stars from the WNBA. But in Berlin, they still managed to win against the best team in Africa in front of a large crowd.
Even without their stars, Germany’s basketball players passed the Olympic test against Nigeria in Berlin with flying colors. The team of national coach Lisa Thomaidis beat the African champions 77:63 (40:31) and won the only international match at home this summer. The best scorers for the sixth-placed team at the European Championships were American-born Alexis Peterson (22 points), who has just received a German passport, and Marie Gülich (16).
“I am incredibly proud of this team. Everyone knows that we are missing three important players. That is not always easy,” said Gülich at Magentasport and added: “That was a big step forward and exactly what we need for the Olympics.”
Germany had to do without all three professionals from the North American WNBA in front of 10,413 spectators. Leonie Fiebich and Nyara Sabally (both New York Liberty) at least watched the action from the bench, but were not part of the squad shortly after the end of the season in North America. Leader Satou Sabally (Dallas Wings) was completely absent. “Unfortunately, I’m sick,” wrote the 26-year-old Berliner on Instagram.
Peterson stands out in the German team
Without the trio, the German Basketball Association’s selection initially had problems against the eleventh-place team from Tokyo. Nigeria played aggressively and tried to make a lot of three-point shots, but the hosts took the lead before halftime and improved noticeably, led by the outstanding point guard Peterson. Even before the final quarter, the lead was still 53:49 – and Germany extended it until the final whistle.
There is not much time left until the team’s first ever Olympic tournament, which starts on Monday in a week. Before that, there are two tests in London against gold favorites USA and Great Britain. The Sabally sisters and Fiebich are finally expected to be there. In the preliminary round in Lille, the team will start in Group C against Belgium and then play against Japan and the USA for a place in the knockout round.
Source: Stern
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