MANILA, Philippines – Shattering predictions, Serbia and Germany fight for the gold in the FIBA World Cup. 

But right before the all-European finale, the star-studded squads from the Americas battle for bronze as USA and Canada try to salvage their campaigns with a medal.

Here’s the schedule on the final day of the tournament:

Classification (5th-8th)

Luka Doncic and Slovenia hope to fly out of Manila with a win in the final phase as they fight for seventh-place seeding against Italy.

World Cup giant-slayers Lithuania and Latvia also aim for respectable seedings as they tangle in the battle for fifth.

Here’s the classification schedule on the penultimate day of the tournament:

Semifinals

It’s down to the final four!

The top squads from the Americas and Europe emerge as the last four teams standing in the FIBA World Cup. 

With the semifinalists all bannered by NBA stars, expect a thrilling showdown on Friday, September 8, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Canada and Bogdan Bogdanovic’s Serbia collide, followed by  the duel between Dennis Schroder’s Germany and Anthony Edwards’ all-NBA United States crew.

Classification

It will be an all-European battle in the remaining classification games starting on Thursday, September 7, to determine the final rankings of the eliminated teams.

NBA star Luka Doncic and Slovenia take on USA-slayer Lithuania, while gung-ho teams Italy and Latvia battle in the other pairing.

Quarterfinals

The big test begins for the last eight teams standing in the 2023 FIBA World Cup. 

Quarterfinal action kicks off with a knockout double-header pitting unbeaten Lithuania against Serbia, followed by the USA-Italy showdown on Tuesday, September 5.

Germany and Latvia start off the knockout battles on Wednesday, September 6, followed by the Canada-Slovenia tussle. 

Serbia, which wrapped up the first two rounds with a 4-1 record, looks to lean on NBA shooting guard Bogdan Bogdanovic when it takes on Lithuania, which capped its unbeaten run by stunning USA.

The all-NBA USA crew, though, vows to rebound quickly against an Italian side that similarly finished with a 4-1 record.

Teams who advanced from the qualification rounds in Okinawa, Japan and Jakarta, Indonesia also head to Manila for their final phase battles starting Wednesday.

Germany, unbeaten in five games behind NBA point guard Dennis Schroder, faces surprising Latvia, which made history as only the third World Cup debutant to reach the quarterfinals.

Canada, which booted out defending champion Spain behind a star-studded NBA crew bannered by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, faces a mouth-watering match against Luka Doncic and Slovenia.

Second round

FIBA World Cup action rolls on with the top 16 teams colliding in the second round, and among them are defending champion Spain, star-studded Canada, favored Germany and Australia, surprising Dominican Republic, and the all-NBA USA crew.

The other eliminated 16 teams continue their act in the classification phase, where some teams like Gilas Pilipinas vows to come out fighting for a shot at an Olympic berth.

Only the best performing teams from Asia, Africa, and Oceania, and the top two from the Americas and Europe will clinch outright 2024 Paris Olympics slots.

Games will still be held at the Araneta Coliseum and Mall of Asia Arena in the Philippines, while Japan and Indonesia will wrap up their co-hosting in this stage before the final phase shifts to Manila.

Here’s the second round and classification schedule, all in Philippine time: 

First round

The best basketball nations cross paths in Asia as the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia host the FIBA World Cup starting on August 25.

Thirty-two of the qualified teams from the Americas, Europe, Asia, Oceania, and Africa were split into eight groups of four and will duke it out for a chance to lift the coveted Naismith Trophy, which Spain won in the last World Cup.

Hosting the World Cup for the first time since 1978, the Philippines welcomes four groups consisting of 16 teams for the group stage to be held at the Araneta Coliseum and Mall of Asia Arena.

Meanwhile, Japan and Indonesia each host two groups.

The top eight teams will converge in the Philippines, with the final phase – quarterfinals, semifinals, and championship game – set to be played at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Here is the World Cup schedule:

– Rappler.com