RIGA (Latvia) - Greece claimed their first FIBA EuroBasket podium place finish since 2009, defeating Finland 92-89 in the Third-Place Game in Arena Riga on Sunday.
The final buzzer signaled the start of celebration for a loud group of Greek fans among the 11,000 in the stands, as their 16-year-long wait for another medal is now over.
This is the sixth time they climb the podium in EuroBasket history, with two golds, one silver and three bronze medals.
Turning Point
Greece led throughout the game, getting an early double digit lead and staying in front until the closing seconds.
They were up by 14 at the half, they still led by 11 with just two minutes to play, but a heroic effort from Susijengi saw them come back to 90-87 with five seconds to play.
Elias Valtonen had a chance to tie the game with three free throws. He made the first two, missed the third, but Mikael Jantunen caught the offensive rebound and went for the put back on the jump.
He missed, allowing Giannis Antetokounmpo to put the game to bed with 4.0 left on the game clock.
TCL Player of the Game
Giannis Antetokounmpo took matters into his own hands, doing a bit of everything to finally see the Greek flag on the podium.
The 30-year-old had 30 points, 17 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 blocks, done on 9-of-11 shooting from the field.
It was his fourth game with a 20-10-5 stat line, no other player has more than three such games over the last 30 years of EuroBasket action.
Stats Don't Lie
Greece were in higher gear through these 40 minutes, leading the fast break points 20-3 before the fourth quarter, while making 14-of-30 three-pointers in the game as well.
Bottom Line
Greece finish on the podium for the first time in 16 years, when their current coach Vassilis Spanoulis was the star player en route to bronze in Poland in 2009.
This is the first time Giannis Antetokounmpo picked up a medal with the national team, joining an impressive list of Greek basketball heroes that had previously led the country to five EuroBasket medals.
For Finland, the fourth place remains their best result ever, and continues their upward trajectory over the past 10 years. They were 16th in 2015, 11th in 2017, seventh in 2022 and now fourth in 2025.
Lauri Markkanen signed out with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
They Said
"We can do anything as a team. We stick together, we play for each other, we play for the country. That's the one takeaway from this tournament. You never give up, you play for the name on front of the jersey, anything is possible. It wasn't quite enough today, but it gives us boost and motivation for the future." - Lauri Markkanen, Finland, on his major takeaway from this tournament
"Very happy for the team, for the nation, after 16 years we were able to get this success." - Giannis Antetokounmpo, Greece
"It's probably the best accomplishment in my career." - Giannis, again
"Every time I play for the national team, I fall in the love with basketball again. I wish we still played this game. I wish we played next summer, too." - Giannis, again
"When I win the MVP, my mom is happy, my brothers are happy, and probably my agent. But when you win a medal, 12 million people are happy. You inspire 12 million people that anything is possible. Kids are going to say: Maybe one day I could win gold medal." - Giannis, again
For more quotes, tune in to the official post-game press conference!
FIBA