Germany, Turkey battle in EuroBasket final

Sports

FROM 24 teams, it’s down to two protagonists as Germany and Turkey posted separate wins in the semifinal round to forge a gold-medal match in the 2025 EuroBasket in Riga, Latvia.

Germany took down Finland, 98-86, late Friday night (Philippine time), September 12, then Turkey manhandled Giannis Antetokounmpo and Greece, 94-68, early Saturday morning, September 13.

Turkey and Germany remained undefeated. The winner in their title match on Monday (Philippine time), September 15, will become just the second undefeated EuroBasket champion in the past nine editions of the tournament. Slovenia did it in 2017.

Greece and Finland were relegated to the bronze-medal match, which will be played late Sunday night, September 14.

Ercan Osmani fired 28 points and Cedi Osman added 17, Alperen Sengun collected 15 points, 12 rebounds and six assists while Shane Larkin piled up 14 points and five assists as Turkey advanced to the EuroBasket final for the first time in 24 years.

Turkey is also assured of securing just its second EuroBasket medal after winning silver as the host team in 2001.

Kostas Sloukas paced Greece with 15 points as Antetokounmpo managed just 12 points although he had 12 rebounds in 30 minutes of play.

Dennis Schroder scored 26 points and added 12 assists and Franz Wagner had 22 points for the World Cup champion Germany, which is set to win a fourth EuroBasket medal. It won the gold in 1993, silver in 2005 and bronze in 2022.

Olivier Nkamhoua ltopped Finland with 22 points while Lauri Markkanen had 16 points but shot just 6-of-17 from the field.(CCM)