THE United States is two wins away from regaining lost glory in basketball’s biggest stage.
With momentum on their side, the Americans are determined more than ever to win it all anew after a woeful seventh-place finish four years ago.
“It’s been a five-week journey for this group and there’s three more days. That’s how we look at it,” US coach Steve Kerr said. “We’re the horse turning back to the barn. The horse starts picking up pace when it’s near the barn, and that’s what’s happening right now.
“Our guys are sensing this is the end of the journey. They know what’s ahead. They know what the goal is,” he added.
The US battles Germany today in the knockout semifinals of the 19th FIBA World Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
The match is set at 8:40 p.m. in what is expected to be a dogfight for a slot in the final of the global basketball showpiece event.
Serbia, which Team USA beat for the gold in 2014 in Spain but also failed in China in 2019 after winding up fifth, tangles with semis first-timer Canada in the curtain-raiser at 4:45.
The one-game final is set this Sunday, Sept. 10, at the same venue.
Kerr’s wards will go into battle on a high, having scored a 100-63 beatdown of Italy in their quarterfinals tiff three nights back.
The likes of Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets’ Mikal Bridges, and Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves are expected to spearhead the US charge.
The Germans, with Dennis Schroder of the Toronto Raptors and brothers Franz and Mo Wagner of the Orlando Magic out to show the way, are not one to simply crumble.
“We set ourselves high goals and it’s going to be a challenge,” Die Mannschaft big man Johannes Thiemann said after his team nipped Latvia 81-79 in the Last 8 last Wednesday. “But with those goals in mind, we have to beat teams like the US and hopefully we’re able to do that.”
Canada ousted the fancied Luka Doncic-led Slovenia five 100-89 two nights back for a maiden stint in the Last Four.
“Congrats to these guys, they just made history. This is the best position so far for Canada, congrats to the guys, to the country and to Canada basketball,” Road Warriors tactician Jordi Fernandez said.
“At the end of the day, this team is relentless. We’ve shown it in Jakarta, and we’re showing it here too.”
The Canadians will pin their hopes on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder, RJ Barrett of the New York Knicks, and the Houston Rockets’ Dillon Brooks.
Serbia strategist Svetislav Pesic said their energy and defense will be among the keys.
“Our energy and our defense, and we have to say it. That’s the way that we should play, and we’re trying to play that way all the time,” he said.
