On August 31st, in a Group A match at the European Championship in Riga, the Turkish men's basketball team defeated Portugal 95-54, securing their spot in the round of 16. Houston Rockets All-Star center Alperen Sengun continued to play an absolute core role for the team, delivering impressive performances on both offense and defense.

Turkey displayed tremendous intensity from the start, building a 24-point lead by halftime and completely controlling the game. The second quarter proved to be a turning point, with substitutes Furkan Korkmaz and Onurap Bitim bringing energy and firepower. Together, they led the team to a 29-point quarter, outscoring Portugal by 15 points and putting the game in a decisive position.

Alperungon continued his hot streak, scoring all 20 points in the first half, adding seven rebounds and five assists for a PER of 27. He played just 21 minutes and didn't even play in the final quarter, yet he was already the TCL's best player.

Turkey shot a remarkable 60% from the field , far exceeding Portugal's 31% . This difference was directly reflected in the score, forcing the game into garbage time early. Portugal's centerpiece, Nemes Queta, led the team with 15 points, but was unable to change the game.