The great summer of the Israeli national teams continues. The cadet team recorded a great achievement this evening (Tuesday) and with the help of 86:94 against the Serbian team qualified for the quarter-finals stage of the European Championship for the first time since 2006. Just as importantly, it ensured its stay in Tier A and sent the power from the other side to the survival games.
Israel scored: Ben Sharaf 28 points (10 rebounds, 9 assists), Omer Meir 20, Ariel Sela 16 (13 rebounds), Rani Balga 9, Miron Katz and Roy Mitlansky 8 points, Uri Yair 3, Aviel Mamou 2
The first half was quite close, with the lead shifting from side to side. However, for the second half, Sharon Abrahami’s team was much better and with the help of 15:28 in the third quarter opened up an advantage, which it was able to maintain until the end, despite Serbian comeback attempts.
Above them all, once again, was Ben Sharaf. The star of the team put on a big game, and with a tremendous display of 28 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists and 4 steals (but also 7 turnovers) he did whatever he wanted on the floor in Skopje. Now, the Israeli team will meet Greece in the quarter-finals, trying to continue the great journey.