Turkey’s semifinal clash with Greece at EuroBasket 2025 in Riga was billed as a test of whether anyone could slow Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek star had been averaging close to 30 points per game, carrying his country through the tournament. But Turkey turned the script on its head. They jumped out to a 26-16 first quarter lead and never looked back, building a 49-31 advantage by halftime. Giannis, who had dominated opponents all summer, was stuck on just four points at the break.

At the center of that storyline was Ercan Osmani. While Greece searched for answers, Osmani scored 18 first-half points, including a perfect 4-for-4 from beyond the arc. Turkey’s defense, anchored by Osmani and Alperen Şengün, left Giannis stranded at just eight total points in 31 minutes.

For a semifinal ca

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