2026 FIBA U20 European Championship · Ljubljana, Slovenia
Selected on merit, started as Türkiye's point guard through all 7 preparation games, then ruled ineligible hours before tip-off. Two of those games — vs Latvia and Serbia — are linked below.
The 2026 FIBA U20 European Championship should have marked one of the proudest moments of Efe Postel's young career.
After an outstanding preparation period, Efe earned his place in the Turkish U20 National Team entirely on merit. He participated in every stage of the national team's preparation, played in all 7 official preparation games, established himself as the team's starting point guard and became an important part of the coaching staff's plans for the tournament.
The team travelled to Ljubljana, Slovenia, where Efe completed all official pre-tournament activities, including FIBA Media Day and the official team photo session.
Only one day before Turkey's opening game, an unexpected administrative issue arose concerning his national team registration. Although the Netherlands Basketball Federation had formally authorised Efe in January 2023 to represent Turkey in future FIBA National Team competitions, and although he had subsequently been selected and participated with the Turkish National Team throughout the entire preparation campaign, it was ultimately determined that the FIBA registration system still reflected his previous Dutch national team status. As a consequence, Efe was declared ineligible to participate in the championship only hours before the opening game.
Despite receiving what he later described as the most difficult news of his sporting career, Efe's first reaction was not to think about himself. Instead, he told his father: "I will do everything I can to help Turkey win this tournament." That sentence reflects the values that define him as both a player and a person.
Earning a place in one of Europe's strongest U20 national teams, becoming its starting point guard during preparation and representing Turkey throughout the build-up to the championship remain significant milestones in Efe's development.
Preparation Games — two of the seven official preparation games with the Turkish U20 National Team, in which Efe can be analyzed as the main point guard, are linked below for coaches, scouts and recruiters.
- ▶ Turkey U20 vs Latvia U20 · Official Preparation Game
- ▶ Turkey U20 vs Serbia U20 · Official Preparation Game
