Germany is out to remind everyone that it is the world’s basketball king, while Finland is eager to carve out history in its first EuroBasket semifinal stint.
Powerhouse Germany and surprise package Finland collide as the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 semifinals get underway Friday, September 12.
The 10 p.m. (Philippine time) game will be played with a spot in the championship on the line — and with two very different storylines converging.
Germany, the reigning FIBA World Cup champion, remains flawless in the tournament at 7-0. Its quarterfinal victory came at the expense of Luka Doncic and Slovenia, 99-91, in a thrilling showdown.
[RELATED STORY: World champ Germany survive Luka Doncic’s 39 points, Slovenia to complete EuroBasket semis]
Franz Wagner once again showcased his versatility, posting 23 points, seven rebounds and four assists, while captain Dennis Schröder orchestrated the offense with 20 points and seven assists.
The Germans withstood Doncic’s near triple-double of 39 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, proving their depth and composure under pressure.
Finland, meanwhile, has been the fairy-tale story of the tournament.
Ranked just 20th in the world, the Finns are making their first-ever appearance in the Final Four after a string of inspiring wins.
They stunned three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic-led Serbia in the Round of 16, 92-86, behind a monster game from Lauri Markkanen (29 points, eight rebounds, three assists and four steals).
[RELATED STORY: Lauri Markkanen, Finland eliminate Georgia to make first-ever EuroBasket semifinals]
Finland then rode the momentum into the quarterfinals, dispatching Georgia, 93-79, with Mikael Jantunen scoring 19 points to lead a balanced attack.
These two sides already crossed paths in the group stage, where Germany ran away with a 91-61 rout.
Wagner dominated with 23 points in just 20 minutes, highlighting the gap between the squads.
But with Finland brimming with confidence after toppling basketball giants, the rematch promises a much sterner test for the unbeaten Germans.
Will Germany’s perfect run continue toward a EuroBasket crown or can Finland’s Cinderella charge rewrite history once again?
(With reports from Jan Ballesteros)
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of One Sports Digital with the help of AI and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]