More than 10,000 spectators watch two victories of the German basketball teams. The atmospheric evening provides a boost for the Summer Games. The aim is to win medals in France.
The German basketball teams have passed their double Olympic test with flying colors. After the women’s clear 77:63 victory against Nigeria, the men’s world champions underlined their renewed medal ambitions in Berlin with a dominant 104:83 (56:31) against their upcoming preliminary round opponent Japan. One week before the start of the Summer Games with the group phase in Lille, both teams gained confidence for the major event in France in front of 10,413 spectators.
Franz Wagner (27 points), Dennis Schröder and Andreas Obst (both 12) led the selection of the German Basketball Association with brilliant performances eight days before the start of the Olympics.
“We did a good job,” said captain Schröder on MagentaSport. “The team chemistry is good, everyone moved the ball. We did a good job defensively.” Top scorer Wagner particularly highlighted the first half. But it was also good to see “where we still have potential,” he said. Coach Gordon Herbert said: “We played good basketball in the first half. Not so much in the second, but that will help us.”
His team never left any doubt that they wanted to win this match. Schröder, who is one of the three candidates for the role of German flag bearer, controlled the game with his usual confidence and skillfully put his teammates in the spotlight.
Franz Wagner shines in his hometown
From the first minute, the Japanese had practically no chance. After the first quarter, the score was 27:16 in a great atmosphere in the arena at Ostbahnhof, and by halftime the lead had grown to 56:31. In particular, Franz Wagner from Berlin, who plays for the Orlando Magic in the NBA, was unstoppable at his old stomping ground. The 22-year-old repeatedly made unstoppable runs to the basket and shone on offense.
Wagner and Co. continued to apply pressure in the second half. The winger in particular showed why he had just signed a new five-year contract in Florida, for which he will receive at least $224 million (around €206 million). At the end of the third quarter, he was substituted to the applause of the spectators and was able to watch as his colleagues managed to maintain the lead.
The women also show themselves confident
The German women had previously won in front of an unusually large crowd, even without their stars from the North American WNBA. They usually play in smaller halls. Nevertheless, the team of national coach Lisa Thomaidis defeated the African champions without much difficulty. 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: “That was a big step forward.”
Germany had to do without Leonie Fiebich, Nyara Sabally (both New York Liberty) and Satou Sabally (Dallas Wings), who are taking a break shortly after their season. The trio are expected to take part in the remaining test matches in London against the USA and Great Britain. In the Olympic preliminary round, the team will then play against Belgium in Group C and then against Japan and the USA for a place in the knockout round.
The men’s team will have their Olympic dress rehearsal against gold favorites USA and LeBron James in London on Monday. In the group phase of the basketball tournament in Lille, they will then face Olympic hosts France, Japan and Brazil. Germany is one of the close candidates for the medals.
Source: Stern
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