Turkey U20 vs Serbia U20

Serbia's dominant first quarter set the tone. Turkey U20, coming off a confidence-boosting win over Romania two days earlier, could not match Serbia's intensity from the opening tip. The early deficit forced Turkey into chasing the game, and Serbia's disciplined half-court defence never allowed a sustained rally. A brief Turkish push in the third quarter — reducing the gap to single digits — was met with an immediate Serbian timeout and a subsequent 8-0 run that restored order.

Serbia U20 relied on balanced scoring across multiple contributors. Their guard play was particularly effective, creating separation off the dribble and finding open shooters on the perimeter. Serbia also dominated the boards, limiting Turkey's second-chance opportunities.

Turkey U20 were led by their frontcourt, who battled hard against Serbia's size advantage. Turkey's scoring dried up in key stretches, particularly late in the second quarter and early in the fourth, when Serbia's defence tightened and forced tough shots.

Player of the match: The Serbia U20 point guard orchestrated the offence efficiently, keeping the tempo high and making smart decisions in pick-and-roll situations. Exact individual statistics were not published for this friendly.

The final margin of 14 points reflects Serbia's control throughout. Turkey's 65-point total was well below the 84 they managed against Romania on 29 June, underscoring the step-up in defensive quality. Serbia, who beat Romania 95-69 on 30 June, scored 79 points — a lower output than against Romania but more than enough given their defensive dominance. Serbia's ability to hold Turkey under 70 points was the decisive statistical separator in this friendly.

Both teams now turn their attention to the FIBA U20 EuroBasket 2026, scheduled for 11-19 July in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Serbia U20 enter the tournament with momentum from two consecutive friendly wins (Romania 95-69, Turkey 79-65), while Turkey U20 split their two friendlies (Romania W 84-56, Serbia L 79-65). The FIBA U20 EuroBasket will feature 16 teams competing for the European crown.

Turkey's next fixture: FIBA U20 EuroBasket 2026 group stage (from 11 July). Serbia's next fixture: FIBA U20 EuroBasket 2026 group stage (from 11 July).

Serbia U20 looked sharper and more cohesive in this final tune-up, demonstrating why they enter the U20 EuroBasket among the contenders. Turkey have work to do on their offensive execution against elite pressure, but the raw talent is evident. The friendly served its purpose for both sides: clear areas for improvement identified ahead of the main event.