Poland shocked Turkey with a come-from-behind 84-83 in Panevezys in game two today.
Dardan Berisha drained a clutch mid-range jumper with 12 seconds remaining to send the loud section of Poland fans into mass hysteria. Before Piotr Panula drained a massive three with 44 seconds left to make it 82-81.
Enes Kanter drained a pair of foul shots before Berisha’s heroics.
“It feels like we’ve won the championship,” Poland’s Thomas Kelati said afterwards. “It was do-or-die and these guys fought with their heart.”
This was a game that Turkey will feel that they threw this away, as they had built a four point lead with just over a minute left.
Berisha led Poland with 21 points overall. Enes Kanter hit 19 for a shell shocked Turkey team.
Before the fourth period kicked into life, it was a sloppy beginning as neither team were connecting on their shots.
Poland took the early advantage through Lukasz Wisniewski with a reverse lay-up, which was added by Szymon Szewczyk. Turkey came back, but Poland kept their noses in font after one.
Kanter was keeping Turkey in it, as Hedo Turkoglu and Ersan Ilyasova were struggling. Veteran point, Kerem Tunceri kept his side in it. A steal and resulting lay-up reduced the deficit to just one point at 32-31.
Poland, again kept their noses in-front at half time with a buzzer-beating lay-up from Adam Hrycaniuk, which extended their lead to four (39-35).
Turkey though stamped their authority on proceedings – racing to a six point lead half-way through the third. Omer Onan in transition making it 56-50.
The small Polish support were getting nervous. Their Eurobasket lives were hanging.
The Turks managed to keep their noses in front after three, by one point, the fourth then brought the game to life.
