With 24 points (50% FG), 16 rebounds, and 6 assists, Rockets star Alperen Sengun dominated again as Turkey advanced to the EuroBasket quarterfinals.
After winning Group A to advance to the knockout rounds of the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 competition, Turkey moved onto the eight-team quarterfinals with Saturday’s 85-79 victory (box score) against Sweden.
Sweden opened the game with a 6-0 run, and Turkey never led in the first half. It was a slow start for Houston Rockets star Alperen Sengun, who shot just 3-of-10 from the field (30.0%) for the half. That total included his only 3-point attempt of the game, which missed left.
But after trailing by five at halftime, Turkey found a spark in the third quarter. They went on a 14-2 run to take a 51-44 lead, which ended up being the game’s only lead change. Turkey outscored Sweden, 26-13, to take a 63-55 lead, and Sengun added 8 points while making both of his field-goal attempts.
In the fourth quarter, Turkey struggled to put Sweden away as the game went down to the wire. But when it mattered most, Sengun made several key plays.
With Turkey clinging to a 78-76 lead with under two minutes left, the 23-year-old secured his own rebound after a miss and put it back in, giving Turkey a four-point advantage.
A few moments later, Sengun blocked Sweden’s 3-point attempt and finished with a transition dunk, extending the lead to six points.
Finally, with under 30 seconds left and Turkey up three, Sengun was fouled and split a pair of free throws. That make effectively ended the game by extending the lead to two possessions.
Sengun shot 5-for-6 in the second half (83.3%) to finish 8-of-16 from the field (50.0%). The 2025 NBA All-Star had 24 points, 16 rebounds, and 6 assists for the game as Turkey improved to 6-0 in EuroBasket play.
Following another impressive performance by Sengun, Sweden’s starting center, Simon Birgander, was asked how it felt to match up with one of the best bigs in the world.
“It was fun,” Birgander told on-site reporters in Latvia. “It’s fun to play against the best, probably MVP (Most Valuable Player) of the whole EuroBasket right now. Super fun.”
“He’s a great guy, a great basketball player, he’s humble to the ground, everything,” Birgander added. “He’s just great to match up with and learn from him. He’s such a good player.”
Birgander joins Latvian star Kristaps Porzingis (also an accomplished NBA big man) among Turkey’s EuroBasket opponents who ended up singing Sengun’s praises after a loss.
With Saturday’s win, Turkey advances to Tuesday’s EuroBasket quarterfinals, when they will play either Poland or Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is only the second time that Turkey has qualified for the EuroBasket quarterfinals since 2001.
Alperen Şengün through 6 Eurobasket games:
16 PTS | 8 REB | 7 AST | 7/12 FG
23 PTS | 12 REB | 9 AST | 8/9 FG
20 PTS | 7 REB | 5 AST | 9/13 FG
21 PTS | 8 REB | 5 AST | 8/13 FG
28 PTS | 13 REB | 8 AST | 10/17 FG
24 PTS | 16 REB | 6 AST | 8/16 FG
At least 15/5/5 on 50 FG% in every… pic.twitter.com/SWDVQSGt6E
— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) September 6, 2025