From BZ/dpa
Europe’s best basketball players are in Berlin! The final round of the European Basketball Championship starts on Saturday in the arena at the Ostbahnhof.
Then the Berliners can also experience live NBA superstars such as Luka Doncic with Slovenia, Giannis Antetokounmpo with Greece or Nikola Jokic with Top-Favorti Serbia.
Greece’s NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo (2.11 meters) from the Milwaukee Bucks Photo: Antonio Calanni/AP
But Germany is there – and with a large Berlin faction!
With Maodo Lo, Franz Wagner and Niels Giffey, there are three native Berliners in the squad of 12. In addition, there is Johannes Thiemann, a long-time Alba professional.
Center Daniel Theis emphasized again on Friday: “The goal is a medal!”
Giffey is looking forward to performing in the hometown. The longtime Alba captain has now been able to settle the problem with the numerous ticket inquiries from relatives and friends. And he revealed that his aunt, the Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey, will not be with Hertha on Saturday when the DBB team meets Montenegro in the round of 16 (6 p.m., free of charge with Magentasport) …
Niels Giffey’s three-pointer against Hungary Photo: picture alliance/dpa
National coach Gordon Herbert fears for the use of Nick Weiler-Babb. “He is very questionable,” said Herbert on Friday in Berlin. Weiler-Babb, who was only naturalized shortly before the European Championships, is suffering from a shoulder injury and was treated in Munich after the end of the preliminary round. “He’ll join the team again today and then we’ll have to wait and see,” said Herbert, looking ahead to the game against Montenegro.
Nick Weiler Babb is in danger of failing in the round of 16 against Montenegro Photo: picture alliance / firo Sportpho
Should Weiler-Babb fail, Justus Hollatz should slip into the rotation. “He’s a player of the future. He’s the second-best young German player behind Franz Wagner,” Herbert praised the point guard, who is moving from the Hamburg Towers to Spain for CB Breogán for the new season. Like Christian Sengfelder, Hollatz was not used in the first four group games. However, the duo had convinced against Hungary at the end in Cologne when Dennis Schröder and Daniel Theis were rested.
Schröder and Theis will be back against Montenegro. “Things are going great. I don’t have any knee problems,” said center Theis, who will be very important against Montenegro with his presence under the basket. “They are physical, tall, and athletic. You have some good people. It will be a physical game. We have to fight back,” said Herbert.
Hard to stop: Slovenia’s superstar Luka Doncic (No. 77) from the Dallas Mavericks from the NBA Photo: THILO SCHMUELGEN/REUTERS
The EM round of 16
Turkey-France (Saturday, 12pm)
Slovenia-Belgium (Saturday, 2.45pm)
Germany-Montenegro (Saturday, 6pm)
Lithuania-Spain (Saturday, 20:45)
Poland-Ukraine (Sunday, 12pm)
Finland-Croatia (Sunday, 2:45 p.m.)
Serbia-Italy (Sunday, 6pm)
Greece-Czech Republic (Sunday, 8:45 p.m.)