Israel’s unbeaten U18 run ends against Slovenia, but World Cup hopes remain alive

Israel's undefeated streak at the FIBA Under-18 European Championship concluded with a quarterfinal defeat against Slovenia, with a final score of 95-87. The loss dashed their hopes of winning the continental title.

Despite the setback, the Israeli team, coached by Nadav Zilberstein, still has a significant opportunity ahead. A victory in their next classification game will secure a berth in the upcoming FIBA U19 World Cup, offering a chance for redemption and a shot at international glory.

Israel entered the knockout stage with strong momentum, having enjoyed an unbeaten run and a decisive win over Denmark. However, Slovenia presented a formidable challenge, spearheaded by Stefan Joksimovic, who delivered a dominant performance with 28 points and 10 rebounds. Slovenia also controlled the boards, finishing with a commanding 50-38 rebounding advantage.

David Moses continued his stellar tournament play, scoring 24 points for Israel, while Aviv Aronov added 20. These two offensive stars have been instrumental in carrying the team throughout the championship. Israel started strong, leading after the first quarter, but Slovenia rallied to take a 49-44 lead into halftime.

The Israeli squad demonstrated resilience in the second half, erasing the deficit and even briefly taking a 78-77 lead in the fourth quarter. However, Slovenia responded with a decisive run, leveraging their rebounding superiority and crucial late-game shooting to secure the win. While medal aspirations are now over, the tournament has showcased the potential of a new generation of Israeli basketball talent, with Moses averaging 23.8 points and 12.2 rebounds, and Aronov leading the championship in scoring at 24.4 points per game.