(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Türkiye Returns to EuroBasket Final After 24 Years
Türkiye has made history by advancing to the EuroBasket Final for the first time since 2001, maintaining their flawless record with a commanding 94-68 victory over Greece in the semi-finals on Friday night. They will now face Germany, setting up a clash between the only two unbeaten teams of the tournament.
Turning Point of the Game
Greece had mixed fortunes in the opening quarter. While they managed to keep Alperen Sengun scoreless early, Türkiye’s Ercan Osmani lit up the scoreboard with 14 points, including four three-pointers, giving Türkiye a 26-16 lead after the first quarter.
From the second quarter onward, Sengun began to dominate with dunks and assists, stretching the lead to 20 points before halftime. The momentum carried into the second half, with Türkiye comfortably holding a double-digit advantage until the final buzzer.
Player of the Game: Ercan Osmani
The star of the night was Ercan Osmani, who delivered a career-best performance for the national team. He scored 28 points, hitting 6-of-8 from beyond the arc, and provided key defensive stops against Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Previously, Osmani’s highest scoring game for Türkiye was 17 points in a 2024 qualifier, making this a breakout moment on the international stage.
Key Stats
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Turnovers: Greece committed 22 turnovers, their highest in a EuroBasket semi-final in the last three decades, which severely hurt their chances.
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Defense on Giannis: Antetokounmpo was restricted to 12 points, though he added 12 rebounds and 5 assists. Türkiye’s defensive strategy of crowding the paint and forcing other players to take shots proved highly effective.
Türkiye’s Road to the Final
This will be only the second EuroBasket Final in Türkiye’s history, the first being in 2001, when they won the silver medal on home soil. Head coach Ergin Ataman had promised before the tournament that his team would reach the final – a promise now fulfilled.
With Hedo Turkoglu watching courtside, the team is aiming higher this time, determined to secure their first-ever EuroBasket gold medal.
What They Said
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Furkan Korkmaz: “A medal is guaranteed, but it has to be gold now. We’re focused on Germany.”
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Coach Ergin Ataman: “It was one of the best defensive efforts I’ve seen in this competition. But it’s not enough – we are ready to fight for the title.”
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Alperen Sengun: “We put our heart on the court. Ercan was incredible, both offensively and defensively.”
What’s Next
Türkiye will face Germany in the Final, while Greece will play Finland in the Third-Place game.
With momentum, confidence, and a perfect 8-0 record, Türkiye is just one win away from making history.
