After double overtime, the German national basketball team celebrates its third win in the third European Championship game. However, opponents Lithuania do not agree with the score in favor of the host and lodge a protest. A referee's error may have a decisive influence.
Lithuania has lodged a protest against the classification of the European Championship group game against Germany. This was confirmed by national coach Kazys Maksvytis in Cologne at the press conference after the game, which the German team won 109:107 (89:89, 46:41) after double overtime. "I still don't understand how the referees let us not take a free throw for a technical foul," said Maksvytis.
In the third quarter, the German bench conceded a technical foul, but the Lithuanians were denied an additional free throw. National coach Gordon Herbert admitted that he only noticed the faux pas of the officials a few seconds before the end of the game. The one point the still winless Lithuanians could have made from the free-throw in regulation time could have been game-changing in the hard-fought thriller.
"This is not a reason for protest. The referee made a mistake and this mistake could have been corrected," said President Ingo Weiss of the German Basketball Association (DBB) after the game. "I have no idea what's coming next," said Maodo Lo, who was strong again, especially in extra time, about the Lithuanian protest. "I think we deserved to win." Instead of a party in green, there was the next home win in front of a euphoric German audience. The ticket to the final round in Berlin (from September 10th) is almost solved.
The German pros were euphoric after the thriller with countless twists and turns. "It's crazy. I'm a bit speechless because it was very, very intense. But it was awesome," said center Johannes Voigtmann. How intense it was could be seen in the Lithuanian press conference. Center Jonas Valanciunas had to leave screaming in pain with cramps because the game in the Lanxess Arena had affected him so much. Valanciunas was the second standout of the afternoon with 34 points and 14 rebounds.
(This article was first published on Sunday, September 04, 2022.)
