Next man up: Shorthanded Israel ready for tough basketball World Cup qualifiers

The Israel National Basketball Team is gearing up for crucial World Cup qualifying games against Germany and Croatia, but a significant number of key players are sidelined due to injuries. Head coach Ariel Beit Halachmi faces the challenge of assembling a competitive squad, with star center Roman Sorkin among those unavailable due to a "genuinely significant" injury.

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We’ve worked really well over the past week. The news that Tomer Ginat was able to join us is very, very important. We’re doing everything we can, preparing as best as possible, and like I told you before, we need to give these players confidence, empower them, and I hope everything will go well.

Despite the setbacks, Beit Halachmi expressed confidence in his team's preparation and the motivation of the available players. "We need to give these players confidence, empower them, and I hope everything will go well," he stated. The coach acknowledged the need for unconventional lineups but believes this could potentially work to their advantage.

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Overall, we have players here with a tremendous amount of motivation. This is an opportunity for them to come in and play a lot of minutes, and a lot of players here are getting a chance, and I trust them. We’ll be using some unconventional lineups, let’s call them that. On the one hand, that can actually work to our advantage.

Captain Tomer Ginat is set to join the team, even if not at 100% health, highlighting the importance of participation. The team's current 2-2 record will carry over to the next stage of qualifying, making these final two Group E games important for momentum. The coach also noted the long season and the impact of recent events, including the war, on player availability and commitment.

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Roman is one of our most important players, but he’s also one of the most committed players we have. His injury is something that absolutely requires rest, and we don’t want to jeopardize any player’s future. In his case, the injury is genuinely significant.