Munich stirs the best memories
19.04.2011 - Olympiapark München GmbH
Launch of advance sales for the European Championship international friendly with Dirk Nowitzki in the Olympiahalle. DDB men's: German vs. China on 26 August
When the German A national men's team comes to Munich on Friday, 26th August 2011 for the European Championship international friendly against China in the Olympiahalle (match begins at 7 p.m.), every basketball fan will recall some wonderful memories.
18 years have now passed since the German A national team celebrated its so far only international title by winning the European Championship in 1993. It happened right here in the Olympiahalle in Munich. In three dramatic contests against Spain (79:77), Greece (76:73) and finally Russia (71:70), the protégés of the then coach Svetislav Pesic wrote German basketball history. The champions' squad at the time included names such as Christian Welp, Henning Harnisch and Mike Jackel.
Now, back in 2011, the current team led by German trainer Dirk Bauermann is back for the first time at the spot that started a true basketball boom. Just under a week before the start of the European Championship in Lithuania (31st August - 18th September 2011), the A national team will be playing a friendly match against China - one of the German's favourite opponents, according to the statistics, with ten victories out of 13 matches.
Also in Munich will be Würzburg's NBA star Dirk Nowitzki, who recently announced his involvement with this year's European Championship. Nowitzki is likely to have his NBA colleague Chris Kaman with him on the flight to Germany, since he has often said that, if Dirk plays, he plays. Always on the condition that both are fit and well. Just how important Dirk Nowitzki can be for the DBB selection can be seen not least from the three last encounters with the Chinese, in which he scored 24, 30 and 17 points.
Despite Germany's strong history, China should certainly not be under-estimated. Although the possibility of them playing their superstar, Yao Ming from the Houston Rockets, is very small due to a further serious injury (stress fracture in his foot), it means that other big names may step into the breach and prove their worthiness. First in line will without doubt be Jianlian Yi (Washington Wizards), who with 20.2 points, was the fifth-best scorer of the last World Championship. In that competition, China came 16th in the final rankings, ahead of the German selection.
The last battles between two nations were held on the 16th of August 2008 at the Olympic Games in Beijing. On their home turf, the Chinese took the better end and beat the German team 59:55 in the preliminary round. The best players on the DBB team were Dirk Nowitzki, who scored 24 points, followed by Pascal Roller (13) and Chris Kaman (10).
Tickets for the basketball friendly between Germany and China are on sale for Euro 18 (Cat IV) to Euro 39 (Cat I). For the disabled, school pupils, vocational apprentices, students, people doing community service, military conscripts and pensioners, tickets will cost from Euro 15 on production of the relevant proof of entitlement. Prices include VAT and all charges, but may be subject to any postage costs. Tickets can be obtained now from München Ticket GmbH, Tel. +49 (0)180/ 54 81 81 81 (0.14/min from a German land line, mobile phones max. 0.42/min), Fax +49 (0)89/ 54 81 81 54, www.muenchenticket.de, from the information pavilion at the Olympia Ice Sports Centre, from the Glashalle am Gasteig, from the town hall information centre on the Marienplatz, from the tourist information office at the main railway station and from the pre-sales ticket offices affiliated with München Ticket.