Top favorite USA made it into the semi-finals of the Basketball World Cup in an impressive manner and would be the opponent of the German national team there.
The five-time world champion dismantled Italy in the quarterfinals in Manila on Tuesday with 100:63 (46:24). In the semifinals on Friday, coach Steve Kerr’s team would meet the Germans. The German team around captain Dennis Schröder meets outsiders Latvia on Wednesday (10.45 a.m.).
The USA and Germany played against each other in Abu Dhabi just under three weeks ago. At that time, the USA won 99:91, although the Germans had temporarily led by 16 points.
Bridge’s best pitcher in the USA
In front of 9,764 fans in the Mall of Asia Arena, Mikal Bridges was the top scorer with 24 points for the Americans, who compete in the Philippines without superstars like LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant. After a disappointing seventh place at the 2019 World Cup in China, the USA are looking for redemption.
Serbia and Pesic first semi-finalist
A few hours before the Americans, Serbia stormed into the semi-finals even without NBA superstar Nikola Jokic. The team of the former national coach Svetislav Pesic won its quarter final against Lithuania in a dominant way with 87:68 (49:38).
“It’s a great and important win for my team. The game went great for us, especially against opponents like Lithuania,” said Pesic at the following press conference.
Coach veteran Svetislav Pesic (r) reached the World Cup semifinals with Serbia.
In the absence of Jokic, who is currently considered the best player in the world, the Serbs benefited from an outstanding team performance and Bogdan Bogdanovic (21 points) in a good mood. The Serbs meet the winners of the Canada-Slovenia game in the semi-finals at the Mall of Asia Arena on Friday.
Lithuania eliminated after USA coup
For Pesic, who had practically said goodbye as a coach, after the World Cup title with Yugoslavia in 2002 and the European Championship trophies in 1993 (with Germany) and 2001 (with Yugoslavia), there is even another big title in old age.
For Lithuania, the setback comes unexpectedly and at the wrong time two days after the famous 110:104 win over Olympic champions USA. The direct Olympic qualification for Paris 2024 is denied to the team around Jonas Valanciunas. After Lithuania also lost a game, Germany is the last of the 32 World Cup participants without a defeat at this tournament.
