Finally, Antetokounmpo reaches a semi-final with Greece!
Giannis Antetokounmpo had been waiting for this final four with the Greek national team for a long time. He will finally experience one starting Friday. Though limited to 29 points, the two-time NBA MVP managed to guide his team to victory against a rather pale Lithuania (87-76), whose potential has decreased in recent years, notably due to their inability to make outside shots.
Vintage Valanciunas (24 points and 15 rebounds) wasn’t enough
In front of their crowd who came in numbers from neighboring Lithuania, Lithuania initially believed they could keep up with Greece. Starting in the lineup, Jonas Valanciunas made the difference on the first three possessions to give his team an early lead (7-0). A lead that didn’t last. Exploiting every transition opportunity and accurate from mid-range, Giannis Antetokounmpo proved unstoppable again to get the Hellenes back on track. This led to a +5 lead by the end of the first quarter (19-24).
Giannis drilling the middy. SCARY HOURS.#EuroBasket | #MakeYourMark pic.twitter.com/HfrtBh98sR
— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) September 9, 2025
Lithuania still struggling with shooting
Despite Jonas Valanciunas’ huge workload (24 points on 9/16 shooting and 15 rebounds for a 31 efficiency rating in 31 minutes, a positive +/- despite the loss), Lithuania never regained the lead. Lithuania once again showed their limitations in outside shooting. Ranked 22nd in 3-point percentage at the Euro before the game (27%, only Iceland and Portugal did worse), they often passed up wide-open shots. The problem was that access to the rim was blocked. And when it wasn’t Giannis Antetokounmpo, it was his brother, Kostas. In the first half, the 2022 French champion blocked no less than 4 shots. This made Lithuanian attackers hesitate, limiting them to only 14 points in the third quarter.
KOSTAS SENDS IT TO ROW 13#EuroBasket | #MakeYourMark pic.twitter.com/96d9iy5BFz
— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) September 9, 2025
Turkey – Greece, a tense semi-final
While Lithuania struggled with shooting despite a late-game surge, Greece could rely on sharpshooter Vasileios Toliopoulos. The former Boulazac player scored 17 points on 6/8 shooting in 16 minutes. A key contribution in this historic success for Vassilis Spanoulis’ team, who will experience Greece’s first Euro semi-final since 2009. A semi-final in which he had participated as a player.
On Friday, his team will face Turkey in a clash between neighboring and rival nations. Also a duel between two NBA superstars, potential candidates for EuroBasket 2025 MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo of course and Alperen Sengun. This match will also be an opportunity for Ergin Ataman, coach of Panathinaikos Athens, to face some of his players and Olympiakos opponents.
In Riga,
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