By Semih Tuna/ info@eurohoops.net
Riga, Latvia – Competing for a ticket to the Finals of EuroBasket 2025, Germany topped Finland, 98-86, in Xiaomi Arena.
Posting a 26-point, 12-assist double-double, including four three-pointers, Dennis Schroder was the top performer, translating into an efficiency rating of 29. Franz Wagner threw in 22 points, including 15 in the second quarter, to pave the way for the first double-digit cushion. Tristan da Silva followed with 13 points. Daniel Theis added a 10-point, 11-rebound double-double, and Isaac Bonga had ten more points. On the losing end for the team guided by Lassi Tuovi, Olivier Nkamhoua ended up with 21 points plus nine rebounds, while Lauri Markkanen was held scoreless through the fourth period and finished with 16 points to his name.
Besides Johannes Voigtmann being limited to two games in Tampere’s Group B and ruled out for the remainder of the tournament, Justus Hollatz was also ruled out due to injury. Only ten players remained available in the Semifinals on Friday, including Leon Kratzer, who stayed on the bench with a minor injury. Overcoming limited options with interim head coach Alan Ibrahimagic in charge instead of Alex Mumbru, the reigning world champions are now up to 8-0 between Tampere and Riga, including a previous 91-61 victory over Finland on September 3.
Similar one-way traffic with brilliant offense and defense saw Germany responding to an early seven-point deficit with a 15-1 sprint turned into a seven-point advantage before the end of the first quarter. More of the same, with the advantage growing to 19 points in the second quarter. Eleven unanswered points by the Wolfpack reduced the distance to six points late in the third quarter, but a 7-0 sprint between the last two periods created a new double-digit lead, more than enough for an eventual win.
On Sunday, Germany will play for gold, seeking first place for the second time following the 1993 triumph in Munich. From reaching the Semifinals for the first time, Finland settled in the bronze-medal game.
Photo Credit: FIBA