Before the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season started in Germany, there was a tribute to the four recent world champions on ALBA Berlin and FC Bayern Munich.
Bayern, ALBA world champions honored before German derby
Euroleague Basketball took the opportunity of the German derby between FC Bayern Munich and ALBA Berlin to honor four players who guided Germany to its first FIBA Basketball World Cup title this past summer.
The ceremony took place ahead of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague game in Munich and honored the Bayern trio of Isaac Bonga, Andreas Obst and Niels Giffey and Berlin center Johannes Thiemann.
The world champions were presented with golden customized basketballs reading: "Congratulations! World Champions 2023". The ceremony also featured customized LED animations as well as a Jumbotron image, together with a blackout with a spotlight on the players on the court.
Bayern's CEO Marko Pesic, himself a former German international and the son of former German national team head coach Svetislav Pesic, represented the home club at the ceremony. And ALBA Berlin's CEO Marco Baldi was present on behalf of the guest team.
Representing Euroleague Basketball was Euroleague Basketball Ambassador Patrick Femerling, who played 12 years for the German national team including two World Cups and the 2008 Olympics.
"I am looking forward to seeing the other World Cup heroes," Thiemann told the ALBA website ahead of the game.
German Basketball Federation President Ingo Weiss was also at the game, and he brought with him the Naismith Trophy, which was on display for fans at the foyer of BMW Park before the game.
Germany this summer went undefeated at the 2023 FIBA World Cup for their first world championship. After beating Japan, Australia and Finland in the first round and Georgia and Slovenia in the second round, Herbert's team defeated Latvia in the quarterfinals and then knocked off United States in the semifinals.
In the final, Germany beat Serbia 83-77 for the country's second World Cup podium finish following third place in 2002.
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