By Semih Tuna/ info@eurohoops.net
Riga, Latvia – Moving to the knockout stage of EuroBasket 2025, Turkiye was tested, trailed until midway in the third quarter, but prevailed, 85-79, against Sweden in Xiaomi Arena.
With Alperen Sengun and Ercan Osmani combining for 17 points in the third period, the preceding deficit turned into a double-digit advantage. Ten unanswered points creating a 51-44 lead seemed to set the pace for a berth in the Quarterfinals, but Sweden tied at 69-69 with an 8-0 sprint and at 76-76 later in the fourth quarter. Replying in a 6-0 run shaped a safe separation for Turkiye in crunch time.
After putting up 21.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per contest in the preliminary round, 23-year-old Sengun dropped a 24-point, 16-rebound double-double alongside six assists plus two blocks on Saturday. The Houston Rockets star in the NBA banked in 17 of his points in the second half.
Despite being issued a third foul in the first quarter, after scoring 11 quick points, Cedi Osman followed with 17 points. Osmani chipped in 14 points and nine rebounds. Sehmus Hazer added 11 points, and Shane Larkin scored half of his ten points in the last quarter. Meanwhile, Adem Bona contributed four points, four rebounds, and three blocks, including a key defensive effort down the stretch.
Staying in Riga after a 5-0 run in Group A, including a win over tournament favorite Serbia, Ergin Ataman’s side survived the resilient team guided by Mikko Riipinen, extending the perfect streak. On Tuesday, the next opponent will be the winner of the matchup between Poland and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
With a 1-4 record in Tampere’s Group B, Sweden bowed out in the Round of 16. In the last tournament showing, Ludvig Hakanson and Pelle Larsson tallied 16 and 15 points, respectively, and Simon Birgander combined a 14-point, 13-rebound double-double with four assists, three blocks, and two steals.
“We really competed with them,” pointed out captain Hakanson, “They had a lot of rebounds. I think we had a great comeback there in the fourth quarter, but in the end, they had more experience in these kinds of games. They know how to go to the free-throw line much more than us. But I’m super proud of the team. I think we showed that we belong here.”
“I’m really sad for them that we couldn’t go through, because I really think we put up a good enough performance,” head coach Mikko Riipinen praised his players’ efforts in the postgame press conference.
Photo Credit: FIBA