Germany outlasts Turkey to win thrilling FIBA EuroBasket final

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Deutschland ist an der Spitze der Basketballwelt.

After 15 lead changes and 11 deadlocks, the Germans have finally done it.

On Sept. 15, 2025, Germany wrapped up its incredible FIBA EuroBasket journey with a gold medal, edging the talented Turkey squad in the grand finals, 88-83, in Riga, Latvia.

It was a game of breaks, and the finale came to a point where it became anybody’s ball game.

However, the Germans didn’t blink in the most crucial stretch of the fourth quarter, showing the inexperienced Turkey a masterclass of how to close out a gold medal game.

Germany has done it before, with the same squad that helped deliver the gold during the FIBA Basketball World Cup donning the black jersey color of Deutschland in the 2025 EuroBasket stage.

The quartet of Dennis Schroder, Franz Wagner, Daniel Theis, and Isaac Bonga spearheaded Germany’s rally, especially during that first half when they went down by as much as 11 points.

Bonga was the team’s spark plug, igniting a massive run at the end of the second quarter with his efficient two-way performance.

The defensive maestro’s crucial blocks helped Germany inch closer, with Schroder and Wagner providing a much-needed offensive punch midway through the third that turned the affair into a dogfight.

It was in the final minute that Germany broke the hearts of Turkey.

Trailing by a point with only 1:17 remaining in the gold medal match, Schroder successfully converted a quick drive to the basket that put Germany back in the driver’s seat, 84-83.

Germany then took advantage of Turkey’s back-to-back missed shots off their pin-down elbow plays, and answering the call once again was Schroder, who sealed the deal with an isolation perimeter jump shot that stretched their cushion to three points, 86-83.

Turkey had one final chance to tie the ball game, but Alperen Sengun’s attempt from the right elbow missed badly, resulting in a trip to the charity stripe for Germany.

Bonga, the team’s unsung hero, led the squad with 20 points off an efficient 8/11 shooting display alongside five rebounds and three assists.

The clutch captain, Schroder, added 16 points, including Germany’s last six markers, while dishing out 12 dimes.

“We were trailing for 24 minutes, every time we came back, Turkey had an answer,” said Germany head coach Alan Ibrahimagic.

“But this is the quality of this team. This team is unbelievably talented, but we were never panicking or being nervous. We knew in crunch time we had our captain, Andi, Bonga, Daniel hit his own shot, that’s the quality of these people.”