Finland vs Serbia EuroBasket 2025 delivered one of the tournament’s biggest shocks as Finland knocked out Serbia with a 92-86 victory in the Round of 16. The win ended Serbia’s championship hopes and gave the Finnish team, Susijengi, back-to-back quarter-final appearances for the first time in history.
The result was also Finland’s first triumph over Serbia since 2009, adding to the emotional weight of the night for players and fans.
Lauri Markkanen carried the offense with 29 points and 7 rebounds, but the clutch moment belonged to Elias Valtonen. With the game on the line, Valtonen poured in 8 of his 13 points in the final two minutes, including a pair of decisive three-pointers that swung momentum firmly Finland’s way.
Serbia, led by reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, had looked dangerous after erasing an early 11-1 deficit to tie the game at 28-28 in the second quarter. Finland refused to fold and went into halftime trailing just 48-44. The balance of the game stayed tight until Valtonen’s late burst put Susijengi ahead 87-81 with less than a minute left.
Mikael Jantunen added 15 points and worked tirelessly against Jokic inside the paint. Young guard Miro Little impressed with 13 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals, showing his all-around ability on both ends of the court.
Finland’s dominance on the offensive glass stood out. The team grabbed 20 offensive rebounds, repeatedly extending possessions and frustrating Serbia. Coach Lassi Tuovi credited the rebounding to the “tagging” system introduced by former assistant Tuomas Iisalo, now an NBA coach.
“Tagging was key. We knew Serbia had size, but we trusted our energy and tactics,” Tuovi said.
Jokic poured in 33 points and 8 rebounds, while Nikola Jovic contributed 20 points. Yet Serbia’s 29 percent shooting from beyond the arc and their inability to handle Finland’s relentless rebounding proved decisive.
Head coach Svetislav Pesic admitted the problem: “They had 20 offensive rebounds. We could not find solutions. That gave them confidence.”
Journalist Nikola Stojkovic from Mozzart Sport called the defeat “a massive shock,” pointing out Serbia’s talent pool and Jokic’s presence. Serbia also missed the injured Bogdan Bogdanovic, while several players reportedly battled health issues.
After his heroic shots, Valtonen joked, “Maybe they thought I hadn’t hit anything in this tournament, so they gave me space. Good that I made them today.”
Little added, “I said the dog’s coming out on Saturday. It came out. We’re a team full of dogs.”
Markkanen emphasized that the team remains focused: “We told the guys: when the moment comes, you have to take responsibility. Everyone stepped up.”
With this victory, Finland move on to the quarter-finals where they await the winner of the France vs Georgia matchup on 10 September. The Susijengi players celebrated with fans inside Riga Arena, marking the historic win as one of the proudest moments in Finnish basketball.
