Turkiye are back on the European basketball stage, advancing to the EuroBasket final for the first time since 2001 after a commanding 94-68 victory over Greece in the semifinals on Friday. They will face reigning FIBA World Cup champion Germany in Sunday’s title game in Riga, Latvia.
The victory ensures Turkiye at least a silver medal, their second in tournament history. Their only previous podium finish came on home soil in 2001, when they lost to Yugoslavia in the final. Germany, meanwhile, are guaranteed a fourth EuroBasket medal, having won gold in 1993, silver in 2005, and bronze in 2022.
Both teams enter Sunday’s matchup unbeaten at 8-0, setting the stage for a historic clash. The winner will become only the second team in the past nine editions of EuroBasket to capture the title with a perfect record, joining Slovenia’s unbeaten run in 2017.
Semifinal Showdowns
In Friday’s opening semifinal, Germany defeated Finland 98-86 behind a stellar performance from Dennis Schröder. The Toronto Raptors guard tallied 26 points and 12 assists, making all 10 of his free throws and hitting four shots from beyond the arc. Franz Wagner added 22 points, including a key pair of three-pointers that pushed Germany’s lead to 49-30 in the second quarter.
Finland threatened to rally late in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to six, but Germany’s depth proved decisive. Olivier Nkamhoua led Finland with 22 points, while NBA forward Lauri Markkanen was held to 16 on 6-of-17 shooting.
In the later semifinal, Turkiye overpowered Greece with a relentless mix of defense and balanced scoring. Ercan Osmani led all scorers with 28 points, while Cedi Osman contributed 17. Rising NBA star Alperen Sengun had a double-double with 15 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists, while Shane Larkin added 14 points and five assists.
A decisive 12-0 run early in the second quarter broke the game open, putting Turkiye ahead 45-24. By halftime, the scoreboard read 49-31, with turnovers proving the difference: Greece committed 12 in the first half, leading to 17 Turkish points, while Turkiye turned the ball over just twice.
Veteran guard Kostas Sloukas paced Greece with 15 points, while Giannis Antetokounmpo was limited to 12 points in 30 minutes, though he grabbed 12 rebounds.
Final and Bronze Medal Game Set
The bronze medal will be contested on Sunday between Greece and Finland. Turkiye and Germany will meet later that day in a much-anticipated final that also serves as a rematch of their August 15 friendly at the DBB Supercup, when Germany edged Turkiye 73-71.
This time, the stakes will be far higher — and history will be made, no matter the outcome.
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