2023-09-06 14:31:34
Published on September 6, 2023 at 4:31 p.m. Aurélie Sacchelli
Germany and Canada qualified for the semi-finals of the Basketball World Cup by beating respectively Latvia at the end of the suspense and Slovenia deprived in the last minutes of Luka Doncic.
Since 2002, Germany had not known the joys of the last four of a World Cup! It will be done on Friday! The German basketball team qualified for the semi-finals, defeating Latvia in Manila following a match rich in suspense: 81-79. If the Latvians had made the best start in this match (3-13), the Germans were quick to wake up (13-16 at the end of the first quarter) and took control at the start of the second quarter to count up to five points ahead (25-20). But Latvia stayed in their wake until the break (36-34). The third quarter was very tight and neither team had a lead of more than four points (62-59, 30th). But straddling the third and fourth quarters, Germany, under the impetus of the Wagner brothers (16pts for Franz in this match, 12 for Moritz), signed a 10-0 which allowed them to lead 70-59 , then 74-60. There was then 6’42 to play and the case seemed settled. But the Latvians did not give up. They returned to -5 (74-69) then resumed a small burst (79-69) before coming back little by little, thanks in particular to Arturs Zagars, author of 24 points during this meeting (79-77). With seven seconds remaining and Germany leading 81-79, Dennis Schröder missed a lay-up, Davis Bertans grabbed the rebound, crossed the field and then fired a three-pointer. But the one who had scored 20 points so far, 6 out of 13 long distance, missed his shot and Germany therefore won their ticket to the semi-finals! It will be once morest the United States, which beat them with difficulty (99-91) during the preparation period.
First half for Canada
The other semi-final will pit Serbia once morest Canada. While the Serbs easily got rid of Lithuania on Tuesday, Canada eliminated Slovenia and joined the last four for the very first time in their history. The duel between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic was highly anticipated, and it did not disappoint, even if it ended in blood sausage. The first quarter was very close (26-24 for Canada) and the second just as much (50-50). But following the break, the Canadians stepped on the gas and made a big difference. They started with an 11-2, including three baskets from RJ Barrett and a 3-point shot from Dillon Brooks. Then Zoran Dragic stopped the bleeding (61-55), before Canada signed an 8-0 with eight free throws (69-55). Slovenia came back well at the end of the quarter, with a 7-0 (80-71), but Canada responded with a 7-0 in turn (87-71) at the start of the last quarter. The Canadians were up to 17 points ahead (94-77), and the expulsion of Dillon Brooks 7’06 from the end for a second technical foul was quickly “forgotten”, because Luka Doncic was also excluded, 29 seconds later, for the same reason. The score was then 92-77. Slovenia, even without its superstar, managed to come back to -9 (94-85), but Canada made a last effort to get the qualification. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 31 points and 10 rebounds and Luka Doncic with 26 points and 5 assists. It will therefore be Serbia for Canada, a team that the Canadians have not faced since 2014, and once morest whom they will leave slightly favorites.
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