Sengun scares and Turkey is already in the Eurobasket quarterfinals
The giant of Houston Rockets has led his team to reach the quarterfinals again after 16 years
Turkey wrote another golden page in its recent history by qualifying for the quarterfinals of the Eurobasket for the first time since 2009. The Ottoman team defeated a combative Sweden (82-79) in a tense and emotional match until the last second, where the figure of Alperen Sengun shone once again.
The center from the Houston Rockets established himself as an undisputed leader with an outstanding performance: 24 points, 16 rebounds, and 6 assists for a total of 34 efficiency rating. These numbers solidify his position as a contender for the tournament's MVP and confirm him as one of the big stars on the FIBA scene.
The match started with a surprise. Turkey, undefeated so far in the championship, stepped onto the court with dangerous relaxation. Sweden took advantage with fluid play, accurate shooting, and led by Pelle Larsson and Ludde Hakanson, who delivered an outstanding first quarter to put their team ahead (20-23). Osman, with 11 initial points, kept the Turks afloat, but his three quick fouls condemned him to the bench for most of the first half. This was evident as Sweden reached halftime with the lead (37-42), also thanks to the work of Simon Birgander, solid on both ends.
The Ottoman reaction came after halftime. Ergin Ataman's team raised defensive pressure and held Sweden scoreless for over six minutes in the third quarter. Sengun started to dominate in the paint, and Turkey took the lead for the first time (63-55 at the end of the third period). It seemed like the definitive breakthrough, but Sweden, true to their combative nature, did not give up.
In the final quarter, the Nordic team balanced the scales again. Pantzar, Njie, and Birgander themselves found solutions to tie the game (76-76 with 2:30 remaining). Tension gripped the arena in Riga, and each possession became crucial. Then Sengun emerged with a spectacular steal and dunk, followed by a basket of pure quality that breathed new life into Turkey (80-76). However, nothing was decided yet. A controversial referee decision, transforming an offensive foul by Sengun into a defensive foul against Sweden, added even more drama to the end.
Highly Intense Finish
With 30 seconds on the clock, Sengun missed two free throws, and Gaddefors slammed the 82-79, giving Sweden hope. The outcome was agonizing, but Turkey held on and secured their spot in the quarterfinals, maintaining a perfect record: six out of six wins in this Eurobasket.
The victory strengthens Turkey's candidacy as a real contender for the medals. The team has shown the ability to endure and respond in crucial moments, with Sengun emerging as an absolute reference. For Sweden, the loss signifies a proud farewell after pushing one of the tournament's powerhouses to the limit. The future will tell how far this unbeaten Turkey can go, but their credentials already position them as a strong contender for gold.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Sengun mete miedo y Turquía ya está en cuartos del Eurobasket
