Serbia started this match brilliantly. The plan was to get Shengun out of the racket and make a clear path for the guards to the basket. Nikola Jović and Vanja Marinković were the first scorers for our team, and then Aleksa Avramović scored brilliantly for 9:3. Ergin Ataman had to ask for a timeout. After that, Turkey lost, especially Alperen Şengun, through which the attack of the Turks began to function. They hit threes, Cedi Osman also started to play, and Shane Larkin's excellent shot at the beginning of the match really worried. He shot 3/3 and the Turks had plus six. We needed a reaction, and it came in the form of Filip Petrushev. A new player from Dubai scored several points that brought us back to the scoreboard and after the first part it was 19:18 for Turkey.

If the first part was an introduction to what follows, the second was exceptional. The start of this part of the game was great. The triples went like drops, especially the Turks' triples. Shengun, Osman and Larkin were especially inspired. Larkin was excellent in the attack, but Avramović countered with a three-pointer, so our shot finally started. Jovići, Marinković and Micić hit the triples that we needed, and Nikola Jokić got involved in the match. We needed that, Serbia started to play in an even better rhythm and we reached the advantage. However, the injury to Aleks Avramović disrupted things a bit. In the end, we led at halftime with a score of 49:46.

And the excellent game of all the actors continued. Sipahi and Osman scored for three, but we also had Jović. Stefan Jović played brilliantly. Our"forced" captain still has magic in his hands. He hit important three-pointers, but the Turks also shot for three brilliantly. It was played quickly and the referee's criteria is very important in this part of the game. The Turks complained a lot about the refereeing, and it all resulted in a technical Shengun. In the end, the Turks led with a score of 74:73, and everything foreshadowed the drama in the last quarter.

It was exactly like that. When Stefan Jović was on the floor, our game was more fluid and we had an advantage. Gudurić and Jokić gave important three-pointers in important moments, but the Turks hit three-pointers like a joke. When Jović came out, the Turks made a decisive 5:0 run for 89:88. Although Jokić scored in the latter attack, Šengun hit two free throws coolly, as did Larkin and thus ended the match. We had everything in our hands, but in the last two minutes we got distracted. However, this is not the end of the world. Serbia is now shifting its focus to Finland and we will try to reach the quarter-finals over the backs of the Finns.

Jokić excelled with 22 points and nine rebounds, Marko Gudurić scored 12, and Petrushev, Nikola Jović, and Stefan Jović scored in double figures. On the other hand, Alperen Shengun had 28 points and 13 rebounds, Larkin had 23 points, and Osman scored 16 points.

Turkey - Serbia 95:90 (19:18, 27:31, 28:24, 21:17, end of game)

93:90 – Jokić missed a three-pointer, so Šengun hit two free throws. That would be it.

93:90 – Gudurić loses the ball, so he fouls Larkin, who coolly hits both free throws. There were 15.5 seconds left, and Pešić asked for a timeout.

91:90 - Jokić for two! When needed! He then fouled Šengun, who hit both free throws.

89:88 – Shehmus Hazer scores for three. Penalty for all missed offensive rebounds. There will be drama here until the end.

86:88 – How we received the basket in an incredible way. The Turks grabbed at least three offensive rebounds and then Shengun scored with a foul. Pešić requested a timeout.

84:88 – How Stefan Jović plays! The captain's quick hands resulted in a steal, so he scored with a foul, too bad not a free throw.

82:83 - Great move by Osman, who assisted Korkmaz, but Jokić was unbelievably quick. What a three-pointer from Somborc, and Šengun scored brilliantly for two. What a match my people.

79:83 – A great basket by Osmani, so Gudurić hit a very important three-pointer. Stefan Jović stole the ball, so he brilliantly assisted Dobrić from behind, who had permission to take off.

76:78 – Poster of Jokić! What a dunk by Osmani, the best in the world.

76:75 – Gudurić invents points for Serbia. He broke through brilliantly and the new player of Milan scored. He landed hard, but he will stay on the floor.

76:73 – Great backdoor by the Turks. Sipahi gave the basket

74:73 – Technical for Šengun. The Turkish superstate complained a lot, and in general Turkish players complain a lot about the refereeing. Marinković hit a technical free throw. We didn't make a basket in the last attack, but the third foul by Šengun was an important factor.

74:72 - Unbelievable what will not happen to Serbia at this championship. Micić was hit in the face by Hazer, and had to sit on the bench. Points from Petrushev and Marinković followed. Šengun and Jokić moved to the bench.

72:68 – Jokić now started to do his thing. We needed that at this moment.

This is becoming a #EuroBasket classic.

Turkiye 🇹🇷 carry 1-pt lead over Serbia 🇷🇸

Final quarter is on the way 💆‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/GrVhWf8RTR

— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) September 3, 2025

70:64 – There are threes for Turkey now. Osman, Larkin and Šengun scored triples in this very important moment of the match.

61:59 – The Turks are pouring three-pointers from all sides, but Jović also hits for three. Stefan Jović has been excellent in the course of the match so far.

56:59 – Sipahi for three, but the mighty Somborac fights back! What a trio from Jokic.

53:54 – Turkey fights back. Šengun hit a three-pointer, so Marinković smelled the intention of the Turks, stole the ball brilliantly and scored on the hoop.

46:54 – Great start to the second half! Petrushev scored with a foul, and Kenan Sipahi responded with a goal from half distance. However, Nikola Jović retaliated with a three-pointer.

From the pen of our reporter from the scene Bojan Vinulović:

Aleksa Avramović returned to the bench, he did not go to the warm-up with his teammates. He is working with the physios behind our bench doing foot exercises, he got a standing ovation from the fans and is doing everything he can to help the game continue.

The situation did not look good when he was coming out of the tunnel, with a painful grimace he tried to do a few exercises, but he insisted on practicing with the staff next to the bench. Tristan Vukčević is now"in civilian clothes" with him.

Halftime

46:49 – Good defense by Marinković, and then Jokić was fouled. We had a good opportunity to make a more significant advantage. And we did, Stefan Jovic hit two free throws after a great offensive rebound.

44:47 – Micić for two with a lot of luck. He threw a floater at the last moment and the ball went around the hoop a lot.

Photo gallery15 Photos

44:45 – The fight is heating up, and Aleksa Avramović was hit in the head, he went to the locker room and that's it.

37:40 – Jokić is great, but the Turkish shot is also great. Furkan Korkmaz scored for three, then Milutinov scored with a foul from Bone! Uh, we needed this.

35:38 – Vasa! A much-needed three-pointer for his confidence, so he hit Adem Bono for two.

35:35 - Jokić scored in his style through Šengun, so the dead ball was played and it went to us in the latter attack.

35:33 - At the end of the attack, Larkin hits an incredible three-pointer, so Aleksa Avramović hits for three and blocks Larkin's shot for three. What a sequence Alexa.

32:30 – Gudurić scored a penalty for a technicality, but we did not get to the basket in the latter attack.

32:29 – Nikola Jović! Here's a shot for three. Then Ataman got a technical for breaking up the counter, in his style.

30:26 - Milutinov showed how mobile he is and scored on a great pass for two.

30:24 – Larkin for three, but Gudurić scored for three from his characteristic step to the side. However, Osmani retaliated, so Stefan Jović scored for three and Osman was forgotten, so he scored another three. Larkin then scored another three-pointer for Ergin Ataman's team, and Svetislav Pešić does not like this at all.

End of the first quarter

19:18 – Now our great series for the end of the first part. Jokic scored for two. Petrushev kept us going in a moment of crisis and we have an active result.

19:15 – Petrushev! He scored for the Dubai player who is now in a great rhythm. He also scored from the penalty line.

Turkiye 🇹🇷 lead Serbia 🇷🇸 19-18 after the first quarter.

🔴 TUNE IN LIVE: 📺 https://t.co/O8gpIsQl2R

— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) September 3, 2025

19:13 – Turkey plays according to Šengun, but Jokić brilliantly found Petrushev and scored after a long time for Serbia.

15:11 – Not good. The Turks rallied after the timeout and made a run. Pešić also had to react with a timeout.

13:11 - Jokić made a nice basket, and Šengun scored a three-pointer, the first points of these two top centers in this meeting. The fans chanted"MVP" to both of them. War of the fans.

6:9 - Shengun passed the ball well, so Osman from the assist raised the shot for three and Osman scored again for two.

3:9 - Vanja is out by three, then Jovic again! Good offensive start for the Eagles. Then Avramović broke through nicely and scored a basket for two.

3:2 - Jović scored at the beginning of the match after a nice action. A miss by Kenan Sipahi followed, and then on the other side, Filip Petrushev failed to score even though he was in contact. Larkin then hit a three over Marinkovic.

Shock - Serbia plays Turkey without an important player!

The famous Serbian actor Miodrag Radonjić is also in Riga.

An incredible scene was seen in a cafe in the capital of Latvia, where the fans of Serbia and Turkey were sitting, and the song"Đurđevdan" echoed in the background, to which everyone rejoiced together.

The day when the voice of the people was heard, then Yugoslavia was part of the world again

Match announcement

The Eagles take to the field again at 8:15 p.m. CET after defeating Estonia, Portugal, Latvia and the Czech Republic. With the same performance (4-0) is their next rival, who has reached a basket difference of plus 95 so far.

Photo gallery16 Photos

The basketball team of Turkey spectacularly opened Eurobasket 2025, not only with victories, but also with a brave attitude, character, chemistry in the game - the team has"head and tail", identity.

In the first week, Turkey achieved convincing victories against Latvia , Czech Republic and Portugal, scoring over 90 points in each game: Turkey - Latvia 93:73, Turkey - Czech Republic 92:78, Turkey Portugal 95:54. Then on Monday, Estonia was routinized with 84:64. These results mark a change from the traditional European style of slow tempo and strong defense to a faster, more dynamic basketball that combines the level of scoring of NBA games with disciplined defensive structures.

What stands out is not only the high number of points, but also the way Turkey maintains intensity in defense while running a high-tempo attack. The team doesn't just react to opponents; he controls the tempo, dictates the rhythm and shapes the flow of every game. This approach challenges long-standing European norms and positions Turkey as a team capable of combining modern offensive creativity with structured defensive principles.

The Turks have a beast in their racket.

The explosion of Turkey's game at Eurobasket 2025 is based on a seamless blend of NBA scoring style and European tactical discipline. Alperen Šengun stood out as the central figure of this transformation, almost like a playmaker in the body of the center.

The Houston Rockets star has an average index of 30, averages 20 points, 6.5 assists, 8.8 rebounds and one block per game. In the game against the Czech Republic, he became only the fourth player in EuroBasket history with three double-doubles, showing his ability to control the game in both the racket and outside positions.

Next to Šengun, Cedi Osman was the team's most reliable scorer, with an average of 15.3 points and 51.4 percent shooting. His presence stretches defenses and creates opportunities for teammates. Kenan Sipahi contributes not only as a scorer, but also as the main organizer of the game, averaging 7.3 points, 4.5 assists and two rebounds per game, orchestrating the tempo and ensuring a fluid exchange of the ball.

Shane Larkin complements the backline by controlling the pace of the game, directing transitions and maintaining rhythm, while Furkan Korkmaz is a constant threat with a shot from distance, which makes opponents wary and prevents defensive collapse. Together, these players create a system where offensive creativity is maximized without compromising defensive integrity.

Turkey's high scoring averages are not the result of reckless play, but rather the result of careful ball movement, intelligent possession of space and strategic tempo management. Each possession is designed to maintain rhythm and pressure, reflecting a deep understanding of modern basketball principles.

It all starts with defense.

Turkey's offensive efficiency is rooted in defensive discipline. The team's ability to hold opponents to low scores — Portugal to 54, Latvia to 73, the Czech Republic to 78 points, and Estonia to 64 — shows how the defense drives the transition offense and scoring opportunities.

This approach allows Turkey to control the tempo of the game, while creating chances with a high percentage of success in both counterattacks and set pieces. At the heart of Turkey's defensive strength is a team effort and depth of player rotation in the racket.

Tall players such as Adem Bona, Omer Faruk Jurtseven and Ercan Osmani constantly protect the rim, challenge shots and secure rebounds. This depth allows Turkey to maintain a high defensive intensity throughout the match, preventing opponents from easily scoring racket points. The team's commitment to defensive support, timely turnovers and coordinated rotations ensures that both racket and perimeter are constantly covered, resulting in numerous interceptions and quick transitions on offense.

Turkey's defensive system is based on cohesion and discipline, showing that a well-structured team defense can be just as powerful as individual blocks or interceptions. In addition, Sehmus Hazer contributes an average of two steals per game, disrupting ball players and sparking quick counterattacks. Hazer's anticipation and agility make him one of the best defensive backs at EuroBasket 2025.

The depth of rotation extends beyond the racket. Onuralp Bitim, Erkan Yilmaz and other players from the bench bring crucial defensive energy, allowing the starters to maintain the intensity of the game without tiring. Kenan Sipahi connects offense and defense, managing tempo and leading rotations and defensive systems. Every guard change, assist and rotation was executed with precision, reflecting a system-based approach rather than just individual talent.

By combining a joint defensive effort and strategic rotations, Turkey creates a two-way system in which defense directly generates opportunities for offense. Quick counterattacks, high-intensity pressures and disciplined perimeter coverage constantly disrupt the opponent's rhythm, forcing them into mistakes that lead to quick points. The Turkish approach proves that a high offensive level can exist with strict defensive rules, establishing a modern and balanced identity in basketball.

The lineup for 2025 represents a turning point. Under the leadership of coach Ergin Ataman, Turkey combines NBA talent with European tactical discipline. Alperen Shengun brings versatility on and off the racquet, while veterans Cedi Osman, Shane Larkin, Furkan Korkmaz and Omer Farouk Yurtseven bring experience, speed and consistency in scoring. With a full roster, clearly defined roles and no egos, Turkey now function as a complex unit, combining ball movement, defensive help and quick transitions to control games.

What does all this mean for Serbia?

In this match, our guys have to play more seriously, stronger, tougher, more organized. Everyone has to participate for 40 minutes, if they want to win, and the win is important to them, not because of passing for other things, their confidence and further competition, as it would provide them an easier way.

Shengun is the biggest concern, but not the only one. However, no matter how many worries we have, our rivals here always have a bigger one - Nikola Jokić, an unstoppable man. Coach Svetislav Pešić tried out the Milutinov-Jokić combination on the field in the match against the Czechs, as he did at the Olympic Games. The selector's goal is not to allow Ergin Ataman to surprise him when he makes two cents, which he has already done, but also to save the best in the world from beatings and allow him to create more, since now he will be on a more serious challenge than he was, because Šengun is different from the other centers he met in the previous four matches, even though one of them was Kristaps Porzingis.

Like Jokić, the Turkish centers can also get out and shoot for three, so the role of Milutinov, as a four, will be to guard, and it remains to be seen how he will do.

The back line must also work, just about everything, but no less the defense, since they, in addition to having great outside players, Shengun's game contributes to the expansion and opening of positions for them, which will put our defensive to additional challenges.

Why is winning important?

If Serbia wins against Turkey, it will take first place in Group A, and in case of defeat, it will take second place. And there is a big difference between first and second place as far as the continuation of the tournament is concerned.

In case we are the first, our team's rival in the knockout phase will most likely be the national team of Montenegro as the fourth from group B, with the possibility that it could also be Sweden or Great Britain.

If our team loses against Turkey, in the knockout phase it would go to the third place from group B, and at the moment that rival would be the inconvenient Finland. The chances of the Finns taking the third place are the highest, as they currently have a score of 3-1, as well as the second-placed Lithuania, who defeated them in a mutual duel, and in the last round, Finland plays against one hundred percent (4-0) and very convincing Germany (Lithuania meets Sweden).

The first place in the group also guarantees that, unless there is a sensation in the match between Finland and Germany, we will avoid the Panzers" until the Eurobasket final, while if we lose to Turkey, the road to the final would lead directly through the Germans (semi-finals), probably France (quarter-finals), the already mentioned Finland...

The head coach of Turkey, Ergin Ataman, announced the duel with the wish that these two teams meet in the final.

I would like to meet in the final. This match is important, it will be a good basketball game between two great teams. In the end, winning or losing doesn't get you a medal. Before the tournament, Serbia was the favorite according to the opinion of all European media, so I would rather beat them in the final than tomorrow. Of course, we will fight for victory tomorrow. They, as well as we, have a good team. A great misfortune for Serbia is the loss of captain Bogdanović. Unfortunately, many injuries happen in the tournament. Jokubaitis, who had great preparations for Eurobasket and played well here, was also injured yesterday. Unfortunately, injuries sometimes affect the tournament itself, so I hope that there will be no injuries tomorrow, because the"real" competition starts on Saturday, with the round of 16.

Selector Svetislav Pešić pointed out that this is the best Turkish team in history.

We played there in Istanbul with approximately the same players and the same team, with the same coach, and then we played in Belgrade. Turkey is now much more complete, a larger number of selections, the selection of a larger number of quality players, somehow they simply connected, everyone the coach counted on came, which does not mean that not everyone we counted on came here, so from that side it is more or less clear. However, let's not talk too much about the Turks now, because we respect them, we respect how they play, what kind of results they achieve in the preparatory period. We must know that Turkey has progressed in every sense in the last 20 years. It is a country that has its own quality league, one of the biggest leagues in Europe. From that now comes a large number of players who go to the NBA and who play all over Europe. So, nothing, for these insiders, for those of you who follow it a little more, there are no surprises at all.

The match starts at 8:15 p.m., and the live broadcast is provided on the channel RTS 1 and Arena Sport Premiun 1.

Serbia at Eurobasket

EuroBasket 2025 started on August 27 and lasts until September 14 in four countries: Finland, Poland, Latvia and Cyprus. 24 national teams are participating, which will play in four groups. The elimination phase of the European Basketball Championship will be played in Riga, where, in Group A, the Serbian national basketball team will also play.

Serbia is in a group with teams from Estonia ( victory with the score 98:64 ), Portugal ( victory with the score 80:69 ), Latvia ( victory with the score 84:80 ), the Czech Republic (September 1 at 8:15 p.m.) and Turkey (September 3 at 8:15 p.m.).