At just 23, Alperen Sengun became the youngest player in EuroBasket history to record a triple-double in Turkiye's commanding quarterfinal win against Poland.
Turkiye's 24-year wait is finally over.
Alperen Sengun dropped a triple-double performance to propel Turkiye past Poland, 91-77, and into its first FIBA EuroBasket semifinal since 2001.
Sengun finished with 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists in 31 minutes, becoming the youngest player ever to post a trip-dub in the tournament’s history.
The Houston Rockets big man also became the second player in the 2025 edition to accomplish the feat, following Luka Doncic’s masterful 26-point, 11-assist, 10-rebound in Slovenia’s 86-69 win over Belgium in group play.
"I'm a team player. I'm gonna do whatever it takes to win. I'm happy we won, I give my everything on defense and offense, and I'm just happy,” the 23-year-old big man said in the post-game press conference.
After a tight first quarter, Turkiye took control with a 27-13 run in the second to build a 46-32 halftime lead.
Poland cut what had been a 22-point deficit to 78-70 with 3:32 left, but Turkey held on to set up a semifinal matchup with two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and Greece.
Meanwhile, it was the end of the road for Poland as Jordan Lloyd and Mateusz Ponitka paced the squad with19 points each.
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.