Sela's Triple-Double Powers Israel Past Belgium
Maor Sela delivered a masterclass performance, notching a triple-double with 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, to spearhead Israel's commanding 85-68 victory over Belgium at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket.
The game at Oradea Arena saw Israel establish control early, building a significant 24-8 advantage in the first quarter that set the tone. This early surge propelled them to a substantial 46-23 lead by halftime, a cushion they maintained throughout the second half.
Entering the final period with a comfortable 64-49 lead, Israel never seriously threatened to relinquish control. Their offensive efficiency was a key factor, as they shot an impressive 55% from the field (35/64) and were perfect from the free-throw line (9/9), a stark contrast to Belgium's 35% shooting.
While Belgium's bench provided a significant scoring punch with 34 points compared to Israel's 12, it wasn't enough to overcome the deficit. Israel's balanced attack, which also featured 20 points from Ido Ziv, proved too potent. Belgium, despite 20 points from Youssef Zagdoud and strong efforts from reserves Mats Pepermans and Alexander Triki, couldn't bridge the gap.
This decisive win serves as a significant statement for Israel within the tournament's competitive landscape.