2023 World Cup worth remembering

MANILA, Philippines — A string of “firsts” was realized by well-deserved countries in the FIBA World Cup during a first tri-nation hosting courtesy of Asian neighbors the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia.

From World Cup debutants South Sudan and Latvia making waves to the historic podium finish of Canada to record-breaking numbers, both in attendance, broadcast and social media, it’s unending at one point that a bevy of “first” heartbreaks happened, too.

But on Sunday night under the bright lights of the Mall of Asia Arena, the greatest breakthrough belonged to Germany in a majestic ascent to the summit of world basketball for only the first time in its rich history.

“Dare I say world champions, dare I say,” said team veteran Moritz Wagner, bathed with sweat, tears and beers with the gold medal around his neck as he passed by the media mixed zone after a gritty 83-77 win over Serbia in front of a sellout crowd.

Indeed, they are.

The Germans capped a perfect 8-0 run that also included a thrilling 113-111 semifinal win over powerhouse Team USA, which went home empty-handed after a 127-118 overtime defeat against first-time bronze medalist Canada.

If the fall of other superpowers like former champion Spain, Olympic silver-medalist France and bronze-medalist Australia in the group stage, the failure of 2019 runner-up Argentina to even make it to the event and Team USA’s medal-less campaign for the second straight edition was any indication of the world basketball order shakeup, Germany’s rise to the throne just put a stamp on it.

“We just want our respect as well,” said tournament MVP Dennis Schroder, wearing his medal and “World Champion” shirt, with coach Gordie Herbert as the entire Germany team stormed and poured beer and water on them midway through the post-game press conference.

Other than the legendary Dirk Nowitzki who was MVP in Germany’s bronze-medal finish in the 2002 World Cup as the country’s previous best campaign, people hardly knew the Germans going into this year’s World Cup. Now, they do.

“Now, we go to the Philippines or Okinawa and everybody knows our team. In Germany as well, people are starting to recognize what we’ve worked for our country and representing it. We just want our respect as well,” Schroder added.

But all of it would not be possible if not for Canadian-born head coach Gordie Herbert, who made all the best German players around the world commit to a three-year plan since his appointment in 2021.

“That’s where it all started. We built (this). It’s a surreal moment. It’s a tremendous group of players. We’re a team first and we have individual talents,” Herbert, who sat on the floor at the buzzer to soak in the historic moment, said, recalling how he talked with captain Schroder for hours in charting the path for German basketball.

Germany – which did not even qualify in the 2014 World Cup in Spain and finished only 18th in the 2019 China, won the EuroBasket bronze medal last year before being the world champions in Manila now in Year 2.

Up next is the 2024 Paris Olympics and expect Germans to shoot for another “first” – regardless of who stands in the way.