Making their debut as finalists, Germany fought back to win a gripping championship battle against Serbia, marking their first-ever FIBA World Cup victory. Both teams have already guaranteed their participation in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The final in Manila saw Germany emerge victorious with an 83-77 score, powered by the leadership of Dennis Schroder. Despite a slow start that left them trailing 26-23 in the first quarter, the Germans remained composed and unfazed by the pressure of the big stage.
First-time finalists, Germany came from behind to win a thrilling summit clash against Serbia, claiming their first FIBA World Cup title. Both Germany and Serbia have already qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. On Sunday, a Dennis Schroder-inspired Germany defeated Serbia 83-77 to win the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila. Despite falling behind 26-23 in the first quarter, the Germans, who were competing in their first-ever final, refused to be intimidated by the occasion.
They responded by taking a small lead in the second quarter, driven by Isaac Bonga's versatility and the three-point shooting of Toronto's Dennis Schroder. After weathering a Serbian comeback attempt, the teams headed into the locker room tied at 47-47. The fact that the lead changed hands 15 times highlighted just how competitive and high-level this matchup was.
Germany stepped up the intensity in the third quarter, creating an 11-point gap that forced a Serbian timeout as the crowd erupted. The lead eventually expanded to 69-57 by the end of the quarter, thanks to the efficient scoring of Franz Wagner from the Orlando Magic. Following a tight first half, that dominant 22-10 stretch provided the cushion Germany needed, leaving Serbia unable to fully recover the lead in the closing stages.
Serbia didn't go down without a fight; led by the strategic play of Bogdan Bogdanovic, they surged back in the final quarter to bring the game within three points. Germany managed to survive a nail-biting final minute to secure the win and spark massive celebrations. The score tightened to 79-77 after Marko Guduric hit two free throws with just 39.5 seconds left, but Schroder quickly answered by driving past two defenders for a basket that put Germany back up by four.
This victory follows a bronze medal at the 2022 FIBA EuroBasket, marking the first time in history that Germany has won major tournament medals in consecutive years. As expected, Dennis Schroder was named the FIBA World Cup MVP, finishing the game with 28 points, including the decisive shot. Having both reached the semi-finals as Europe's top two teams, both Germany and Serbia have already secured their spots for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
In the battle for third place, Canada took down the United States 127-118 in an overtime thriller, marking their first-ever trip to the podium at the FIBA World Cup. The Canadians nearly won in regulation, but a clutch three-pointer by Mikal Bridges with only 0.2 seconds left forced the extra period. Ultimately, Canada stayed composed under pressure to clinch the win.