Israel began their 2025 Eurobasket campaign on the right foot with a 83-71 win over Iceland as Deni Avdija and Roman Sorkin did as they pleased to take the opening game victory. Avdija and Sorkin scored early and often while Elvar Fridriksson countered for Iceland as Israel grabbed a 23-19 lead after the opening quarter. The frantic pace slowed in the second period as Avdija and Sorkin continued to be the main contributors but Tryggvi Hlinason kept Iceland close at the half as Israel held a 36-32 advantage.

Israel opened the third quarter with a 9-0 run as the dynamic duo of Sorkin and Avdija scored at will but Fridriksson and Hlinason wouldn’t allow Israel to break totally free as the blue-and-white stayed in front 60-52 after thirty minutes of action, however, Sorkin and Avdija made sure that Iceland wouldn’t get any closer as they kept Iceland at bay in the final frame to close out the victory.

Sorkin scored 31 points, Avdija added 20 points and 8 rebounds while Yam Madar and Tomer Ginat each scored 7 points a piece in the win. Fridriksson scored 17 points and Hlinason put in 13 points in the loss.

“This was very important as the first game is always very hard,” Israel Head Coach Ariel Beit Halachmi began. “We worked the entire summer on the opener and it was not easy as to how the opponent was playing. I am glad that we found a way to win in the second half. I am sure we will be better in the next games but it was really important to take the win.”

Next up for Israel will be the host Poland on Saturday night, “They are a different team and the arena will be full. Their style is different, this is a tough and experienced team and it will be a different game which we will have to come in prepared for. We have a little more than a day to get ready.”

The MVP Roman Sorkin summed up the game, “It’s really not just me here that’s important it’s the entire team. We’re happy that we won, the margin of victory is important. We made it harder than it should have been but it’s the first game and we’re excited – but let’s move on. It was a good game from my point of view on a personal level, they found me in the right places. What’s important now is the next game.”

On playing with Deni Avdija who scored 20 points, Sorkin added, “It’s a lot of fun, he draws so much attention that it makes the job much easier for all of us. He’s a great player, doesn’t force things, everything flows and is just fun. We’re happy that he’s with us and not against us.”

Yam Madar also spoke about the win and his physical condition after not having played competitive basketball for quite some time, “This was great and it was fun to open up the Eurobasket with a win. I’m in shape to play and I may not feel that I am in the best condition but I am fine. I didn’t have a minute limitation either but what was really important is that we took the win in the first game.”

Deni Avdija opened Israel’s Eurobasket campaign with a basket inside while Roman Sorkin and Yovel Zoosman also found points in the paint, Elvar Fridriksson put in a pair of baskets for Iceland but Avdija came back with two buckets of his own as the blue-and-white grabbed a 12-6 led midway through the first quarter. Sorkin continued to score in bunches inside, Fridriksson carried the scoring load for Iceland, Yam Madar went from deep, Tryggvi Hlinason and Kristinn Palsson also found points but Ariel Beit Halachmi’s team took a 23-19 lead after ten minutes of play.

Orri Gunnarsson began the second quarter with a basket, Tomer Ginat, Sorkin and Zoosman scored at the other end, Martin Hermannsson, Jon Axel Gudmundsson and Hlinason tried to keep Iceland close but a pair of Itay Segev free throws sent Israel into halftime holding a 36-32 advantage.

Sorkin got the second half off and running from downtown and from in the paint, Avdija scored an uncontested layup for a quick 9-0 run to begin the third quarter, Sorkin again dialed up from long distance, Madar hit a trio of free throws and Avdija a pair to bump up the lead to 53-36 midway through the period. Gudmundsson and Gunnarsson scored as they attempted to cut into the double digit lead but Sorkin scored from beyond the arc, however, Palsson and Fridriksson came back with points to keep Iceland hanging around but down 60-52 after thirty minutes of action.

Sorkin once again started off a quarter with a 3-pointer, Hlinason and Avdija traded buckets, while the latter then set up Sorkin for an alley-oop as the duo kept finding the bottom of the bucket Styrmir Thastarson scored a quick pair of baskets, but it was too little too late as Israel took the win.