‘Greek freak’ Giannis ready for latest huge challenge, with Rockets rival in sights

Clash of the Titans. Greece will face Turkey this Friday for a place in the EuroBasket final, in a tournament full of surprises where the pre-tournament favorite Serbia bowed out in the round of 16, sending Nikola Jokic home in despair. Spain also suffered a setback, while others found unexpected glory. For Giannis Antetokounmpo, this is a breakthrough – it is the first time he has reached the semifinals of a major FIBA championship after years of disappointments with his national team. Waiting on the other bench is Ergin Ataman, dubbed the Mourinho of basketball, making this a showdown too unpredictable for bets.

For Greece, this is a chance to end a long drought. Their last medal came at EuroBasket 2009, a bronze, while the country still waits for its first Olympic podium finish. They did, however, claim silver at the 2006 World Cup, famously knocking out the United States before falling to Spain’s golden generation in the final. On the continental stage they won gold in 1987 and 2005 – the latter sparking a golden era with stars like Vassilis Spanoulis (now head coach), Nikos Zisis, Ioannis Bourousis, Dimitris Diamantidis and Thodoris Papaloukas. But the momentum faded, and continuity never arrived.

Turkey’s résumé is slimmer. They won silver at EuroBasket 2001 on home soil and repeated that finish at the 2010 World Cup, losing to a Kevin Durant-led Team USA. Since then, nothing. Ataman is now in his second stint as coach – his first between 2014 and 2016 yielded little – and there is an urgency to finally win a medal. At EuroBasket 2022, two missed free throws by Cedi Osman sent Turkey crashing out in the round of 16. Failure in subsequent qualifying windows meant no place at the World Cup or Olympics, a crushing blow for such a talented roster. This summer, though, they shocked Serbia in the group stage, then beat Sweden (85-79) and Poland (91-77) to reach the semifinals.

Giannis vs Sengun

While Spanoulis and Ataman will be central figures on the sidelines, this game belongs to the stars on the floor – Giannis Antetokounmpo and Alperen Sengun. Giannis is averaging 29.8 points, nine rebounds and 3.6 assists per game, with a high of 37 against Israel in the round of 16. Sengun has been dazzling, perhaps in the best form of his career, posting 21.6 points, 10.9 rebounds and 7.1 assists. In the quarterfinals he had a triple-double (19-12-10), and earlier delivered 28-13-8 against Jokic. It is the duel within the duel, a head-to-head that could define the outcome.

Ataman is likely to pack the paint with bodies to make life harder for Giannis, exploiting his well-known struggles from the perimeter – he is shooting just 25% from three in the tournament. Stopping him in transition, though, is another matter. His explosive first step, his ability to crush the rim and his sheer physical dominance remain almost unstoppable. After the quarterfinal win, Giannis told teammates: “We haven’t won anything yet.” He knows redemption is within reach.

For Turkey, much depends on Sengun’s ability to orchestrate. His vision makes him a constant threat, always able to find open teammates cutting off the ball. Osman’s status could prove crucial – he is nursing an injury but is expected to play, albeit at an uncertain level. Ataman will make as few substitutions as possible, relying on his core.

The stakes could not be higher. Victory means a shot at gold, defeat means a scramble for bronze. Two nations, two coaches, but above all two superstars – Giannis Antetokounmpo and Alperen Sengun – will carry the weight of expectation.

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