12 Giant Men, second in Europe, returned home: Our national team was welcomed with flowers

The Turkish men's national basketball team finished second in Europe , losing 88-83 to Germany in the EuroBasket 2025 final. The silver medalist , 12 Giant Men , landed in Istanbul after departing from Riga this morning.

The delegation, which arrived at Istanbul Airport from Riga, the capital of Latvia, on a Turkish Airlines private plane, was greeted by Youth and Sports Minister Osman Aşkın Bak, Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, and airport staff with flowers and flags. Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak, Turkish Basketball Federation President Hidayet Türkoğlu, National Men's Basketball Team Head Coach Ergin Ataman, team captain Cedi Osman, and Alperen Şengün, who was selected for the tournament's top 5, spoke to the press as they exited the airport.

Thanking the team for their performance, Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak said, "First and foremost, I thank our coach for setting the goal of reaching the final. I thank the president and his team. I thank the return of the 12 Giant Men, who form this strong team, and the increased enthusiasm. I thank our President. I thank you for the Basketball Development Center. The 12 Giant Men are here. We believe they will be champions. I express my gratitude for their performance. May your path be clear ."

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HIDAYET TURKOGLU: EVEN COMING BACK WITH A MEDAL AFTER YEARS MADE US PROUD

Turkish Basketball Federation President Hidayet Türkoğlu, stating that all of Turkey is proud of the team's accomplishments, said, "Esteemed members of the press, you have never abandoned Turkish basketball. Thank you. You have shared the achievements of these children with millions. First and foremost, I would like to thank our coach for the goal and vision he has set since day one. I would like to thank the 12 Giant Men who believed the team would reach the final and trusted in him. We are proud to be part of this team from a management perspective. Our coach and our brilliant team have inspired millions of young people. Thank you to this team. The process was invaluable. Basketball has recently represented us in the best possible way in Europe, in terms of clubs. Many thanks to the clubs as well. Our national team is the one who has voiced the need for basketball to spread throughout the country. Thanks to these brothers and sisters, we have seen our longing for success spread throughout Turkey, thanks to your support. Our President has called regularly. I would like to express my gratitude in your presence. Our Minister has been with us since the training camp. Everyone from all over Turkey has expressed their pride in these children." "They were proud of the work of these 12 Giant Men. Perhaps we're sad right now. We could have come back with gold, but even returning with a medal after all these years makes us proud. I hope the success will continue to grow. We have a very young team," he said.

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ERGİN ATAMAN: I WANTED TO PRESENT THIS CHAMPIONSHIP TO THE TURKISH NATION

Ergin Ataman, head coach of the Turkish National Men's Basketball Team, stated that they wanted to gift the Turkish people a championship , but it wasn't possible. "We thank the Turkish nation for embracing us," he said. "These young people fought for the championship with determination and passion in every match, right up to the final, right to the very last second. Years later, they won the silver medal. I'm personally saddened because I so wanted to gift this championship to the Turkish people. Unfortunately, sometimes you don't get the results you deserve, but we made the Turkish people love basketball again. Thank you very much."