Turkey to Face Germany for EuroBasket Crown After 24-Year Wait
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RIGA, Latvia — Turkey booked its first EuroBasket championship appearance since 2001 and will meet reigning World Cup champion Germany for the gold medal on Sunday.
In Friday’s second semifinal, Turkey hammered Greece 94-68 to remain unbeaten at 8-0. Earlier, Germany also improved to 8-0 with a 98-86 victory over Finland.
Turkey ends long final drought
The Turks broke open their game with a 12-0 burst that spanned just 2:19 of the second quarter, stretching the lead to 45-24. They led 49-31 at halftime after converting 12 Greek turnovers into 17 points while committing only two giveaways themselves.
Ercan Osmani paced Turkey with 28 points, Cedi Osman added 17, and Alperen Şengün contributed 15 points, 12 rebounds and six assists. Shane Larkin chipped in 14 points and five assists. Greece got 15 points from Kostas Sloukas, while Giannis Antetokounmpo managed 12 points and 12 rebounds in 30 minutes.
Germany keeps perfect record intact
Dennis Schröder guided Germany past Finland with 26 points and 12 assists, hitting four three-pointers and all 10 free-throw attempts. Franz Wagner scored 22 points, including consecutive threes that pushed Germany’s largest margin to 49-30 in the second quarter.
Finland closed to within six late in the third, but Germany pulled away again. Olivier Nkamhoua led the Finns with 22 points, and Lauri Markkanen finished with 16 on 6-of-17 shooting.
Medal implications
Sunday’s winner will become just the second undefeated EuroBasket champion in the last nine tournaments, joining Slovenia in 2017. Turkey is guaranteed only its second EuroBasket medal after earning silver on home soil in 2001. Germany will collect its fourth medal, adding to gold in 1993, silver in 2005 and bronze in 2022.
Germany edged Turkey 73-71 in a friendly at the DBB Supercup on Aug. 15, their lone meeting before the tournament.
Greece and Finland will play for bronze earlier on Sunday.
Source: ESPN
