The German national basketball team is already in the World Cup quarter-finals before the second intermediate round match against Slovenia. The reason is the victory of Luka Doncic and Co. over Australia.
In the preliminary round it was Japan, now Slovenia: Germany’s basketball players move into the next round again from the couch. In Manila, it’s not just the World Cup medals that are within reach. For the first time since 2006, Germany has reached the World Cup quarter-finals and will play for medals and the Olympic ticket in Manila.
The team of national coach Gordon Herbert benefited from Slovenia’s 91:80 (49:40) victory over Olympic bronze medallist Australia on Friday. Germany and Slovenia with star Luka Doncic thus have a flawless record of four wins in four games before the direct duel on Sunday (1.10 pm). The duo can no longer be ousted from the first two places in the intermediate round. The clash is still about winning the group. Germany had previously won 100-73 against underdog Georgia.
Possible quarter-final opponents are Canada, Spain – or Latvia
The Slovenians won in Okinawa, Japan, mainly thanks to a strong performance by Mike Tobey, who even outshone Doncic this time. Tobey scored 18 points and twelve rebounds. Doncic, who had to sit on the bench for a long time because of foul problems and was attacked again and again, scored 20 points in the end. For the Australians, the performances of Josh Giddey (25) and Patty Mills (17) were not enough for victory. Slovenia thus also succeeded in taking revenge for the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo, when Doncic and Co. had lost the bronze match against the Australians.
Germany will travel to the Philippines after the last intermediate round match on Monday. The quarter-finals are scheduled for Wednesday (10.45 am or 2.30 pm). Possible opponents are co-favourites Canada or world champions Spain, who however surprisingly lost to Latvia on Friday. The two best European teams qualify directly for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris and can save themselves the elimination tournaments next summer.
