Bundesliga
Congrats to Germany's basketball World Champions!
Captain Dennis Schröder and his glorious teammates won basketball gold at the World Championships in Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines. In the final against Serbia, Germany triumphed 83-77.
The Bundesliga congratulates Germany's basketball heroes after the side ensured their place in national sporting folklore following a historic triumph in Manila on Sunday. The team's feat is deserving of even greater praise considering they had never before even made it through to a World Cup final. Germany's previous best tournament finish came back in 2002, when tournament MVP Dirk Nowitzki helped the nation to a bronze medal place in Indianapolis.
After winning all seven games on their way to this year's final - a run that included victories against highly-rated Australia, Slovenia - led by NBA star Luka Doncic - and a sensational last four triumph against the USA (113-111), Serbia awaited in the showpiece.
Although the Balkan nation were without their strongest player, center Nikola Jokic - arguably the best player in the world right now - the Serbs excelled with their superb in-game know how and were led by coaching mastermind Svetislav Pesic. The 74-year-old tactician helped Germany to gold at the European Championships in 1993 and was German champion with Alba Berlin (four times) and Bayern Munich (once).
Thriller in Manila
In Sunday's final, both teams fought an even battlle that cointained hard-hitting defenses and displayed strong individual class. While NBA star Bogdan Bogdanovic (Atlanta Hawks) scored 15 points in the first two quarters for Serbia, captain Schröder (Toronto Raptors) and Franz Wagner (Orlando Magic) netted 14 points each. The teams went into the break level at 47-47.
In the second half, the game's intensity rose but Germany eventually pulled twelve points clear in the third quarter (69:57). Serbia fought their way back in the fourth quarter and reduced the arrears to four points in the last minute of the game. However, Gordnon Herbert's men kept their nerve to finish the final 83-77 in front. Germany's top scorer was their captain, Dennis Schröder, who bagged himself 28 points. The Braunschweig native was also deservedly named MVP of the tournament. In all, Germany racked up eight triumphs in eight games at the finalsm, making them worthy winners.