The German basketball players continue to gather confidence for the Olympics. The next win against Japan in Berlin. Things get serious in France in just over a week’s time
World champions Germany have clearly won their Olympic test match against their upcoming preliminary round opponents Japan. The team of national coach Gordon Herbert won 104:83 (56:31) against the Asians in Berlin and achieved its third success in the fourth preparation game.
Franz Wagner (27 points), Dennis Schröder and Andreas Obst (both 12) led the German Basketball Association’s selection with brilliant performances eight days before the start of the Olympic Games.
“We did a good job,” said captain Schröder on MagentaSport. “The team chemistry was right, everyone moved the ball. We did a good job defensively.” Top scorer Wagner highlighted the first half in particular. But it was also good to see “where we still have potential”, he said.
Coach Gordon Herbert commented: “We played good basketball in the first half. Not so much in the second, but that will help us.”
At no point did his team leave any doubt that it was determined to win this encounter as well. Schröder, who is one of the three candidates for the role of Germany’s flag bearer, controlled the game with his usual aplomb and skillfully set up his teammates
Franz Wagner shines in his home town
From the very first minute, the Japanese had virtually no chance. The lead was 27:16 after the opening quarter in a great atmosphere in the arena at Ostbahnhof and had grown to 56:31 by half-time. Berlin’s Franz Wagner in particular, who plays for the Orlando Magic in the NBA, was unstoppable at his old club. The 22-year-old made several unstoppable drives to the basket and shone in offense.
Wagner and Co. continued to pile on the pressure in the second half. The wing player in particular showed why he had just signed a new five-year contract in Florida, for which he will receive at least 224 million dollars (around 206 million euros). He was substituted at the end of the third quarter to the applause of the crowd and was able to watch as his colleagues managed the lead.
Best scorers: F. Wagner (27 points), Schröder (12), Obst (12), Lo (11), M. Wagner (11) for Germany – Hachimura (19), Togashi (13), Hiejima (11), Hawkinson (10) for Japan. – Spectators in Berlin: 10,413
