Sela, Ziv Power Israel Past Georgia
Maor Sela delivered a dominant performance with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists, while Ido Ziv added 26 points to propel Israel to a convincing 91-72 victory over Georgia at the Arena Antonio Alexe.
In this FIBA U16 EuroBasket clash, Israel established a slim seven-point lead by halftime, heading into the break up 46-39, and maintained their momentum to enter the final period with a 62-54 advantage.
Georgia, spurred by Nikoloz Markoishvili's 24 points, battled but couldn't contain Israel's offensive surge. Israel sealed their win in the decisive fourth quarter, outscoring Georgia 29-18 to secure a 19-point final margin. Israel's dominance was evident in their 46% field goal shooting (30/65) and a significant rebounding edge (47-30), complemented by 30 assists to Georgia's 14. Rotem Ben David also chipped in with 18 points and 7 assists, as Israel's bench contributed a crucial 22 points. Despite Markoishvili's efforts and Luka Gabisiani's 17 points, Georgia struggled, hitting just 50% of their free throws (9/18).
This victory serves as a statement for Israel in the tournament, showcasing their ability to perform under pressure.