Israel’s basketball team secured a spot in the knockout stage of the EuroBasket tournament for the first time in over a decade Tuesday with a 92-89 win over Belgium.
Led by forward Deni Avdija’s 22 points, Israel dominated most of the game and led by as many as 21 points before Belgium managed to pull within a single possession with eight seconds to go.
But guard Yam Madar quickly shut down any chance of a Belgian comeback, hitting both his free throw attempts from the charity stripe to put the game out of reach for good.
The win in Katowice, Poland, puts Israel atop the Group D standings, after it previously dispatched Iceland 83-71 and upset hoops powerhouse France 82-69 in earlier play.
The sole loss for the team, which entered the tournament as an underdog ranked 39th in the world, came as Poland eked out a 66-64 victory on August 30.
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Center Roman Sorkin poured in 18 points and nabbed 4 rebounds to help secure the win on Tuesday. Both Avdija and Sorkin were perfect from the field in the first half.
Israel’s Deni Avdija handles the ball during EuroBasket play in Katowice, Poland, on September 2, 2025. (fiba.basketball)
“We secured our goal, and I’m proud of us,” Madar said after the game, according to FIBA, which organizes the competition. “I feel like Roman is very efficient with the way he’s playing. He knows what he’s doing, and we trust him over there. We know he’s gonna be there for us.”
The berth marks the first time since 2015 that Israel has advanced past the group stage in the now-quadrennial competition. Other teams to qualify for the 16-team single-elimination round, which tips off in Riga, Latvia, on Saturday, include Greece, Serbia, Turkey, Germany and Poland.
Israel’s players celebrate after beating France at the Spodek Arena in Katowice, Poland on August 31, 2025. (Sergei GAPON / AFP)
Avdija, who plays for the Portland Trail Blazers, is one of some two dozen NBA hoopsters to be taking part in the competition. Others include some of the sport’s biggest names, such as Greece’s Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic from Serbia, the odds-on favorite to take home the trophy.
Israel will close out its group stage play Thursday against Slovenia, which has struggled thus far despite the presence of Lakers star Luka Doncic. The outcome of the game will likely affect seeding for the first round of the tourney.
Israel’s Yam Madar celebrates after Israel beat Belgium in EuroBasket play in Katowice, Poland, on September 2, 2025. (fiba.basketball)
Israel’s last appearance in the knockout stage of the tournament ended with a 30-point pounding at the hands of Italy in 2015.
The team’s only ever win in a EuroBasket knockout stage came in 2003 against Slovenia.
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