In a dramatic turn of events at EuroBasket 2025, the Finnish national basketball team orchestrated a monumental upset, overcoming a highly-touted Serbian squad, which included the formidable Nikola Jokic, in the Round of 16. This unexpected triumph, with a final score of 92-86, not only secured Finland's progression to the Quarter-Finals for the second consecutive tournament but also marked their first victory over Serbia in 16 years. For Serbia, this defeat served as a painful reminder of their premature exit from the 2022 competition at the very same stage, highlighting a pattern of underperformance in critical elimination games. The game was characterized by Finland's aggressive start and sustained resilience, despite Serbia's attempts to mount a comeback.
From the opening tip, Finland, often referred to as the Susijengi, demonstrated an unyielding determination, quickly establishing an 11-1 lead and extending it to 16-5. This assertive beginning immediately put Serbia on the defensive, preventing them from ever truly seizing control of the match. Despite Serbia's efforts to narrow the gap, even drawing level at 28-28 at one point, Finland maintained their composure, heading into halftime with a manageable 48-44 deficit. Their energetic play persisted into the second half, culminating in them holding a narrow 68-66 lead entering the decisive final quarter.
The tension escalated in the fourth period when Serbia briefly edged ahead 77-75 after a 6-0 run. However, Finland refused to yield. Elias Valtonen emerged as the undisputed hero for the Finnish side in the clutch moments, sinking three crucial baskets and tallying 8 points in the final minute, propelling Finland to an 87-81 lead with under sixty seconds remaining. Valtonen's exceptional performance, which included 13 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists, earned him the TCL Player of the Game honor. He attributed his success to unwavering team belief, stating, "We just believed in each other today and just made it happen."
Lauri Markkanen continued to showcase his leadership, contributing a game-high 29 points and 7 rebounds. Mikael Jantunen also made significant contributions with 15 points, while Miro Little delivered his best tournament outing, adding 13 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals. On the Serbian side, Nikola Jokic displayed his individual brilliance with 33 points, and Nikola Jovic added 20. Yet, their team's performance was significantly hampered by crucial deficiencies, most notably being outrebounded on the offensive glass by Finland, who secured 20 offensive rebounds, and a dismal 29 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
Serbian head coach Svetislav Pesic conceded their inability to counter Finland's dominance on offensive rebounds, acknowledging, "They were one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the tournament and they had 20 offensive rebounds. We couldn’t find solutions for their offensive rebounds." Nikola Jovic echoed his coach's sentiments, lamenting their lack of readiness from the start and highlighting the unacceptable number of offensive rebounds conceded. For Finland, this victory was not merely a statistical achievement but an deeply emotional one. Veteran guard Sasu Salin expressed his elation, emphasizing his focus on the present moment and the joy of advancing.
This historic win snapped Finland's eight-game losing streak against Serbia and propelled them into unprecedented territory with successive top-eight finishes in EuroBasket history. Their next challenge awaits them against the victor of the France vs. Georgia matchup. Conversely, Serbia's premature departure from the tournament leaves them with pressing questions and the need for significant introspection regarding their future performance on the international stage.
