Türkiye returned to the EuroBasket Semi-Finals for the first time since 2001, powered by an exceptional performance from their superstar center, Alperen Sengun.
The Houston Rockets standout recorded the youngest-ever triple-double in EuroBasket history, finishing with 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists, propelling Türkiye past Poland with authority.
After the game, teammate Shane Larkin reflected on Sengun’s impact.
“I think Alperen’s taking that next step. I think he’s taking on the expectations and the responsibilities,” the player said.
“He’s very solidly placed himself as one of the best players in the world, Top 15, Top 20, whatever you want to call it, Top 10. And now it’s just about going out there every single night and being that consistent presence,” he continued.
Larkin also praised Sengun’s consistency across Türkiye’s seven games.
“We’ve played seven games and he’s been there every single game with rebounding, scoring, assists, defense, and big stops. So I think he’s put himself in that upper echelon of players.”
He emphasized the team’s support for their star.
“We’re just going to continue to support him and continue to give him the confidence; hopefully, he can continue to carry us, and we can do some great things,” Larkin added.
When asked about the nickname “Turkish White Chocolate,” the guard acknowledged it.
“I guess with the passing ability and with that vision, you can say it for sure. But completely different sizes and players,” he commented.
Looking ahead, Türkiye will meet the winner of the Quarter-Finals clash between Greece and Lithuania at Xiaomi Arena in Riga.
Larkin, drawing on his EuroLeague Final Four experience with Anadolu Efes, stressed the importance of composure.
“I’m one of the oldest guys on the team, and I’ve played in a lot of different high-pressure situations in my career. In these situations, it’s always great to have somebody who’s been in that situation.”
He advised the younger players to stay focused.
“I’m just gonna try to preach to the younger guys and explain to them that this moment is a blessing. Don’t let the moment be too big because it’s just like playing basketball anywhere else,” Larkin said.
Acknowledging the external pressures, he added, “Obviously there’s gonna be a crowd, there’s gonna be a lot of expectations, there’s gonna be a lot of media, there’s gonna be a lot of hoopla going around, but at the end of the day, once you get inside those lines, it’s the same game we’ve been playing since we were kids.”
His advice was simple: “Just go out there and enjoy it, have fun. Play hard, play aggressive, and you know, as long as you leave everything out there, you’ll have no regrets, and hopefully we can do that and win the game.”
Finally, Larkin reflected on competing against Poland’s Jordan Loyd.
“It was fun. I think where he’s been playing the last few years, maybe he hasn’t been the number one option on his team, and I think for Poland he was granted that responsibility. He shoots 15-16 shots a game, he’s the number one option.
“He’s taken contested jump shots in some of the ways that he’s played before, whether that’s been in Zvezda or Saint Petersburg. I think he enjoyed it; he obviously played amazingly. It was very fun to play against him in this atmosphere.”
Shane Larkin on Alperen Sengun’s triple-double: “He’s taking the next step”#Eurobasket https://t.co/XVewU3WO0w
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) September 9, 2025
