On September 16, the Greek men's basketball team defeated Finland 92-89, returning to the podium of the European Basketball Championship after 16 years and winning a precious bronze medal. This is also the sixth time in Greek history that they have won medals in the European Championship, including two gold medals, one silver medal and three bronze medals.

Greece maintained a consistent lead throughout the game, building a double-digit lead in the first half. In the final moments of the quarter, Finland launched a frantic comeback, closing the gap to 87-90 with just five seconds left . Valtonen missed the chance to tie the game by making two of three free throws, and his Finnish teammate's tip-in also missed. Ultimately, Antetokounmpo sealed the victory with two free throws.

Giannis Antetokounmpo dominated throughout the game, scoring 30 points, 17 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 blocks, shooting 9- for -11 from the field. This was his fourth all-around performance of the tournament, with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists , making him the undisputed Player of the Game. This bronze medal also marked his first international podium appearance with the Greek national team, a truly significant achievement.

It is worth mentioning that the current head coach Spanoulis won the bronze medal with the team as a player in 2009. Now he leads Greece to the stage again as a coach, achieving double glory.

Statistics show that Greece displayed greater intensity and efficiency in the competition, shooting 14 for 30 from three-point range and leading in fast break points with a score of 20 to 3. Although Finland unfortunately missed out on a medal, its ranking has steadily improved over the past three consecutive European Championships, from 16th in 2015 to 4th in 2025 , demonstrating continued progress.