By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
With Cedi Osman scoring his first 19 points in 19 minutes of action, Turkey after a slow first quarter kept things in check against Georgie for the 101-88 win in the first game of the 31st “Acropolis tournament” in Athens Greece.
Georgia, the hosts of Eurobasket Group A, was not easy prey. On the contrary, after two free throws by Toko Shengelia, they trimmed Turkey’s lead to three (88-85).
However, Alperen Sengun with a break-away dunk in which he was also fouled, created again some distance (92-85) and the game was over.
Osman finished the game with 22 points, Sengun had in total 17 points, Furkan Korkmaz added 18 and Onuralp Bitim scored 12. Naturalized point guard Shane Larkin in his first game with the team this summer had two points and six assists.
Shengelia scored 20 points for the losing side, which led for most of the first half. Giorgi Shermandini added 18 points.
Georgia is still missing Goga Bitadze, while Sandro Mamukelashvili had a double-double (16 p. 14 r.) with his coach in the Bucks, Mike Budenholzer, watching the game from courtside.