For the first time since 2015, Israel’s national basketball team is through to the EuroBasket round of 16. Ariel Beit-Halahmy’s squad secured its third victory of the tournament Tuesday, a 92-89 win over Belgium, improving to 3-1 and clinching a top-four spot in the group with one game remaining.
What looked like an easy win turned into a hard-fought battle, with plenty of sweat and nerves. Israel stormed to a double-digit lead in the first quarter, stretched the gap as the game went on, and withstood a Belgian rally in the final period that had fans worried in the stands.
There was no single standout in blue and white. Deni Avdija once again delivered a strong performance, Roman Sorkin controlled the paint, and Tomer Ginat provided relentless energy and hustle, seemingly everywhere on the court.
Remarkably, while the initial goal had been simply to reach the round of 16, Israel now has a realistic shot at finishing first in the group. A win Thursday at 6 p.m. over Luka Dončić’s Slovenia, combined with a French win over Poland later Tuesday, would secure at least second place.
If both France and Poland win their final games, creating a three-way tie at 4-1, Israel could still claim the top spot — provided France beats Poland by fewer than 24 points.