Susigengi said goodbye in Prague style, but in the next trainings we will go harder – a commendable grade did not come out of the first block

Finland beat the Netherlands in their last group game of the European Basketball Championships 88–67. Finland didn’t have to stretch to its best against the group jumbo that lost its further chances.

Read more about the progress of the match in Urheilu’s EC competition club.

Sports expert Antero Lehto bundles the Netherlands match and the first group and summarizes Petteri Koponen and Shawn Huff meaning for Susijeng.

We probably go harder in training

The Dutch match was decided early when Finland led by 17 points at the break and by 27 before the last quarter. Finland was able to evenly play the entire roster. The best point man was Lauri Markkanen With 22 points, even though he only played 18 minutes.

The Netherlands, who remained in the group jumbo and lost their chance to advance before meeting Finland, looked beaten and lazy beforehand.

In a certain way, the match was an indication of Susijeng’s maturity anyway.

– Finland is already able to handle such opponents with a routine. It’s a great thing that it has risen to such a level. The match had to be won, then it was won, and in style. 12 guys got on the field and 12 players had points, praises Lehto.

– If you think about the coaching staff, this certainly went as they had hoped.

Of course, there is another side to the matter. The match did not serve as any kind of general practice for the playoffs, when the opponent, intensity and tempo are several orders of magnitude harder.

– The good thing is that there is time to play the flute here and there is also time to practice. In the preparatory exercises, the tempo of the game, which is needed in the quarterfinals, will certainly be sought. The Dutch match did not serve it, and did not prepare for the top16 games.

Not a commendable grade

– When you play winning basketball, you have won at least half of the matches. Finland’s balance in the first group was 3–2, one throw away from making it 4–1, says Lehto, referring to Israel’s defeat in overtime.

– You can’t give this a praiseworthy grade. I would give 8.5 with a school grade. If the Israel match had turned around, it would have been commendable.

Finland has made it to the next round of the European Championships every time during its streak that started in 2011. In 2011, Finland won two matches and lost three in the first group. Finland advanced to the next group, where it finished fifth and out of the top eight playoffs.

2013 Finland played a great opening round, four wins and a loss to Italy. In the next group, Finland beat Slovenia, but lost to Spain and Croatia, finishing fifth again and out of the playoffs.

In the 2015 Games, Finland’s balance was again two wins and three losses. Then there were no longer playoffs, but we went directly to the playoffs of the best 16. Finland lost to Serbia in the quarterfinals 81–94.

2017 Finland hosted the first group and won many thriller-like, memorable victories. Both France and Poland fell in overtime, Iceland and Greece in regular time. The only loss came to Slovenia, who marched to European Championship gold, by three points. Susijeng’s team is back in the first playoff round after Italy won the quarterfinals in Istanbul 70–57.

“I know how much sacrifice it takes”

The most emotional moments of the Dutch match were seen in the final minutes. Petteri Koponen and Shawn Huff, who are ending their careers at the European Championships, received wild applause. The public demanded Kopo to the field, and the head coach Lassi Tuovi answered the shout.

After the match, Koponen had to wipe tears from his eyes.

– After all, this was for myself… I thought I wouldn’t get emotional. But at the end, even the old man got emotional, Koponen, taken by the fans’ gesture, wondered after the match.

Read more: See how Susijeng’s fans gave Petteri Kopose and the head coach unique vibes – “This is the moment”

– It was great. Basketball culture at its best, Lehto, who admired the atmosphere in the Prague Arena, shares.

– This duo has done groundbreaking work for Susijeng.

38-year-old Huff and 34-year-old Koponen have played in all five EC tournaments since 2011, as well as in Finland’s first and so far only World Cup tournament in 2014.

In the 2014 World Cup in Spain, Koponen led the tournament in assists with 5.8 passes per match.

– I myself have been involved in it for a couple of summers. I know how much sacrifice it requires from myself and those closest to me and what kind of mood it is in the summer. Especially when these euro professionals were on summer vacation.

Koponen, who played in Himki, Barcelona and Bayern, was a star-class quarterback whose hand did not shake even in the toughest places.

Huff created his career in Italy, Germany and France from 2011 to 2019 before returning to the Seagulls in Helsinki, where his club career ended. Koponen also finished his league game in the ranks of the Seagulls.

The duo’s importance to Susijeng was enormous on the field, but at least as great off the field. Especially now, the spiritual significance has been emphasized, when Susijengi’s EC team has eight first-timers of the prestigious championships.

Read more:

When Shawn Huff was young, he didn’t dare to say out loud his dream, which is now everyday life in Susijeng – Petteri Koponen hated basketball as a child, but grew up to be a star

Croatia’s NBA star tactics as Finland’s opponent for the European Championship playoffs? ‘s expert is bored: “I hope the mockery hits your ankle”

See how Susijeng’s fans gave Petteri Kopose and the head coach unique vibes – “This is the moment”

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