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The Turkish national men’s basketball team, known as “12 Giant Men,” secured its place in the EuroBasket 2025 quarterfinals after defeating Sweden 85–79 in Riga.
Despite a slow start, Türkiye extended its winning streak to six games in the tournament and confirmed its status as one of the title contenders.
1 min read
Türkiye entered the match as clear favorites after sweeping their group 5–0, but Sweden made life difficult early on. The Scandinavian side led 23–20 after the first quarter and extended their advantage at halftime, going into the break with a 42–37 lead. However, the third quarter shifted the momentum entirely.
With Alperen Sengun dominating inside and Cedi Osman finding rhythm from the perimeter, Türkiye outscored Sweden 26–13 in the third period, reclaiming control of the game.
3 min read
Alperen Sengun once again delivered a stellar performance, finishing with 24 points, 16 rebounds, and 6 assists. His all-around play proved decisive in Türkiye’s comeback. Cedi Osman added 17 points, while Ercan Osmani contributed 14 points and 9 rebounds. Off the bench, Sehmus Hazer provided a spark with 11 points.
For Sweden, Ludvig Hakanson and Viktor Gaddefors scored 16 and 15 points respectively, but their efforts were not enough to stop Türkiye’s second-half surge.
Despite Türkiye’s victory, head coach Ergin Ataman directed his frustration toward FIBA. He criticized the decision to assign an early morning tip-off to a group-winning team, arguing it disrupted biological rhythms and team preparation.
Ataman admitted he feared the unusual scheduling could have cost Türkiye the game, but emphasized that his players’ resilience and experience allowed them to overcome the challenge and secure the win.
With this victory, Türkiye advances to the EuroBasket 2025 quarterfinals, where they will face the winner of the Poland–Bosnia and Herzegovina matchup. The team now stands just two wins away from reaching the semifinals and potentially competing for a historic medal.
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