The German basketball players around a self-sacrificing Satou Sabally have fulfilled their big dream and are taking part in the Olympic Games for the first time.
At the qualifying tournament in Belem, national coach Lisa Thomaidis’ team got their ticket to Paris with a 73:71 (39:35) victory over hosts Brazil. It is the greatest success in history for the DBB women.
Sabally sisters back again
Since Serbia narrowly lost to Australia in the first Sunday game (73:75), the starting position before the third and final game was clear: the German team could even afford a defeat with a difference of up to seven points.
After the sisters Satou (injured) and Nyara Sabally (rested) were missing from the clear defeat against Australia (52:85) the day before, both returned to the squad. Star player Satou Sabally wore a shoulder cuff on the left side and – unlike usual – sometimes threw with her right hand.
11:0 run at the start
Despite this weakening, the team got off to a strong start (11:0/4th minute). Brazil, cheered on by their 9,000 fans, fought their way back over the course of the first half and the duel was completely open after that.
In the first meeting with the South Americans since 1998, things were tough, sometimes too tough, with Satou Sabally in particular getting a lot of work. The Berlin woman was in pain.
The DBB team fought back, but Brazil made it 65:61 (36th). Satou Sabally shone with a double-double (20 points, 11 rebounds), made it 67:67 (40th) and secured the preliminary decision. Germany followed Australia to Paris – and took Serbia with it. Brazil failed without a win in Group A of four.
The men in Paris were there too
Thanks to the next coup of the women, who earned sixth place at the European Championships last year and earned the starting place for the qualifying tournament in Brazil, the DBB is represented by both teams in Paris. The men qualified for the gold medal at the 2023 World Cup.