Two years after their global coronation, the Germans this time went up on the roof of Europe on Sunday, after a high-level Euro basketball final against Turkey in Riga (88-83). Under the eyes of the German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the Mannschaft gleaned at the end of the suspense its second European title, after that of 1993 at home.
“This is a huge success for German basketball,” savor at a press conference Alan Ibrahimagic, assistant to coach Alex Mumbru, reduced and who had to leave a good part of the competition. “It is not only a question of winning titles but also of bringing something (for the development of basketball) to our country and I hope that we have succeeded.”
Squatting at the center of the prosecution of the Riga Arena, the 2023 captain and world champion Dennis Schröder let his emotion escape, he who a few seconds before had definitely designed the success of his family. Yet little in sight in the first period, the 32 -year -old leader on Monday (16 points, 12 assists), elected MVP of the tournament, turned into evening heroes at the best of moments by scoring the last six points of his team just over a minute of the term.
“I am so proud of each of us, we have always remained united, in the ups and in the stockings, winning the World Cup and being a European champion is really huge,” he savor little time before being celebrated by his teammates who came to wish him his birthday.
Meeting between two favorites
Turkey, losing magnificent, lacked very little to win the first big victory in its history on an international scale, leaving its coach Ergin Ataman deeply disappointed. “In recent weeks, I have talked a lot to a press conference, but there I have nothing to say,” he said. We lost a match we had in hand. ”
In Riga, the duel promised to be enticing between the only two undefeated nations of the whole competition, capable of brilliantly defending their status as a favorite as to bring down large stables like Serbia or Greece. And he will have held all his promises, as the two opponents went blow for blow, without ever letting the other detach.
However, Turkey had started in a rush (13-2), on the momentum of its high-level semi-final against the Greeks of Giannis Antetokounmpo-who harvested bronze-two days earlier. But not enough to confuse the Mannschaft. Intractable throughout the competition, she was able to count on the way of her coronation on an Isaac Bonga unstoppable (20 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists) and best marker for Germany in front of Franz Wagner.
Opposite, the Turkish star Alperen Sangun, author of a fantastic tournament, has once again shone (28 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists), but the play fell on the side of Germany this time, which continues its hunt for trophies.