Following a late change in plans, Alperen Sengun is now playing for Turkey’s national basketball team in this month’s FIBA Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament. On Friday versus Sweden, Sengun continued his run of strong form with 16 points and 5 rebounds on 6-of-9 shooting (66.7%), including 2-of-4 on 3-pointers (50.0%).
For the game, Turkey went +22 in Sengun’s 24 minutes played. Other current NBA players on Turkey’s team include Philadelphia’s Furkan Korkmaz and Utah’s Omer Yurtseven.
After going 3-0 in group play, Turkey was one of four teams to advance to the knockout stage, with both semifinal games taking place Friday. Led by Sengun, Turkey won its game with ease, 105-84 (box score), to set up Sunday’s final versus Croatia. The winner of that earns a ticket to next year’s qualifiers for the 2024 Olympics.
All of Turkey’s pre-qualifying tournament games have taken place at Sinan Erdem Arena in Istanbul, which will host Sunday’s final.
From Friday, here’s a look at Sengun’s highlights versus Sweden. As for the Rockets, Sengun averaged 14.8 points (55.3% FG, 33.3% on 3-pointers), 9 rebounds, 3.9 assists in 28.9 minutes last year. He remains Houston’s expected starting center entering training camp for the 2023-24 NBA season, which begins in October.
Alperen Sengun highlights, Turkey vs. Sweden
Alperen Sengun. Always. pic.twitter.com/JaiIkXNQHP
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) August 18, 2023
Alperen Sengun with the spin + slam 💪 pic.twitter.com/NFOcj6ygTv
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) August 18, 2023
Alperen Sengun in the first quarter: 12 Points, 5-6 FG, 2-2 3PT.
Oh, and this was his only miss. I think he's ready for Croatia pic.twitter.com/HachNnI7ZB
— Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) August 18, 2023
Alperen Sengun with the 360° layup to end the first half!
I guess John Wall did end up having an effect on the young core after all. Alpi's just freestyling out there lmao pic.twitter.com/R0ud1eKnYj
— Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) August 18, 2023
Just Sengun doing Sengun things. pic.twitter.com/ASQoVT33it
— Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) August 18, 2023
I don't understand how Sengun does many of the things that he does. Like, how did he get this ball to Yurtseven?! pic.twitter.com/CJxiYXfYaT
— Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) August 18, 2023
Alperen Sengun is a problem. 😤😤
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) August 18, 2023
ALPEREN ŞENGÜN IS A KNOCKDOWN SHOOTER FROM DEEP 🚨🚨🚨 pic.twitter.com/taEDT7HAlz
— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) August 18, 2023
Turkey beat Sweden 105-84 and joined Croatia in the final of their FIBA Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament 🇹🇷
2️⃣2️⃣ Furkan Korkmaz: 18 points (3/6 3PTS) and 5 assists
2️⃣3️⃣ Alperen Sengun: 16 points (6/9 FG) and 5 rebounds
7️⃣7️⃣ Omer Yurtseven: 16 points (7/12 2PTS) and 9 rebounds pic.twitter.com/xmM2v4QX2A— Cesare Milanti (@cesaremilanti) August 18, 2023
Alperen Sengun and Omer Yurtseven, Turkey's twin towers, did the job over Sweden(105-84) in the semi-final of the #FIBAOPQT in Istanbul.
Sengun
16 pts, 5 reb, 6/9 FGYurtseven
16 pts, 9 reb, 7/13 FGTurkey will face Croatia in the final game. #BizBirlikteyiz #TakeNote #Rockets
— Christos Tsaltas (@Tsaltas46) August 18, 2023
