It’s hard to find a story like that of Svetislav Pešić in the world of sport. This Sunday he will face the final of the basketball world cup as selector Serbianfocused towards Germany, a duo that no one even dared to imagine before the start of the championship (2:40 p.m., TVE). At Indianapolis 2002, the Serbian coach already had this experience when he led the missing team. Yugoslavia of Stojakovic, Divac or Bodiroga to the title against Argentina. Twenty-three years separate one date from the other. Quite a career.

That of Pesic is one of the big names in European basketball and the finale which will live in the Manila Mall of Sports Arena, an establishment with more than 16,000 seats, will only multiply its legend. “It’s a different situation and a different championship. But let’s see how this ends. At the moment, no one thought we could do it, but here we are, ready for another battle,” explains the coach.

“Pesic is a great friend, one of the best of all time,” he congratulates him Gordi Herbert, the Canadian coach, with a Finnish passport, about to also write a single page with Germany, who he took to the final of a World Cup for the first time and fight for the title, leaving the young and talented team of UNITED STATES who had gathered Steve Kerr. “Beating the United States was good, but it’s a very special generation of players. “They want gold and we still have one match left,” Herbert adds ambitiously.

“Disappointment”

There was a general tendency to think that they would be United States and Canada those who would find themselves this Sunday in the fight for the world crown. But they will have to do it for bronze (10:30), a small consolation for two teams full of NBA names. In its place, Serbia and Germany They have earned the right to succeed Spain, the last champion in 2019. These are the two strongest and most attractive teams to follow.

“I don’t want anyone to sugarcoat it, UNITED STATES It was a disappointment. You gotta take your hat off to Germany and Serbia. They had very good matches. But it’s good for sport. For FIBA, basketball and the fans, so that everyone knows that the rest of the world is here to play,” he said on Saturday. Carmelo Anthony, highlighting the excellent level demonstrated by the finalists as well as the impact of the defeat of the American team in the semi-final.

Serbian He reached this final by defying all predictions. No one had much confidence in the Balkan team after last year’s Eurobasket fiasco (they lost in the round of 16 to Italy), the absence of two core pieces like Nikola Jokicthe NBA MVP and champion, and Vassilije Micicsigned this summer by Oklahoma, and the serious injury of Borisa Simanic, the Casademont Zaragoza player, evacuated and lost a kidney after suffering a major blow in the match against South Sudan. Nor that they overturned the Canada by Jordi Fernández in semis. But the management of Bogdan Bogdanovic (Atlanta Hawks), the strength of Nikola Milutinov (Olympiacos) and collective work returned to Serbian to the top.

The same can be said of the choice of Germanywho has not given up any victory in the championship, clinging to the leadership of Dennis Schröder, the former Lakers point guard and Raptors newcomer, the versatility of the brothers Franz and Mo Wagner, of the Orlando Magic, and the power of Daniel Theisof the Pacers.

giant step

“Germany’s performance in this World Cup is gigantic, especially because they outperformed the United States by playing the way they did and scoring 113 points,” said the Argentina legend. Luis Scola. “And Serbia are one of those teams that always come back, bring out new players and keep appearing. “I really want to enjoy this final.”

Some voices are already talking about the end of American hegemony in basketball. This has happened in the last two championships. But it is also true that UNITED STATES has won gold in seven of the last eight editions of the Olympic Games, since Barcelona-92and it is the competition that they enjoy the most.

“I would love to send the best every year to compete at the highest level. But we must respect those who are here. “They are professionals too,” he mused. Anthony. »r;But I want to clarify: As Americans, we don’t think we can’t lose. The fear of losing is what drives us and makes us want to win and makes us feel so bad after losing. But the sport has become globalized, it is developing internationally and everyone has a chance to fight for victory.”