Israel punched their ticket to Eurobasket 2025 with a 88-75 win over Ukraine as Yam Madar and Ben Saraf led a second half comeback to erase an 11-point deficit at halftime to secure the victory. The blue-and-white moved their Group A record to 3-1 with two games remaining as they advanced to the European Championships along with Slovenia who sport the same 3-1 record. Portugal is in third place at 2-2 while Ukraine is in last place with a record of 0-4.
In the second game between the two clubs in as many days with Israel hosting this match up, the visitors came out strong and controlled the pace of play from the outset with points by Artem Pustovyi, Oleksandr Kovliar, Issuf Sanon and Ivan Koniev to give Ukraine a commanding 40-29 lead at halftime.

Yam Madar – Photo credit: FIBA
However, Yam Madar and Khadeen Carrington along with Roman Sorkin started making an impact to cut the lead down to a lone point, 57-56 by the end of the third quarter. Ben Saraf took control of the game for Ariel Beir Halachmi’s squad in the final frame with help from Roman Sorkin, Tomer Ginat as well as Madar and Carrington as they all scored in bundles to take home the win.

Photo credit: FIBA
Next up for Israel will be a pair of home games in February against Portugal and Slovenia where Beit Halachmi will be able to begin to prepare for the European Championships which will open up at the end of August.

Yam Madar – Photo credit: FIBA
Madar starred for the second game in a row with 24 points, Carrington and Ginat each had 16 points, Sorkin added 14 points and Saraf checked in with 11 points in the win. Pustovyi and Kovliar each had 15 points and Sanon scored 12 points in the loss.

Ariel Beit Halachmi – Photo credit: FIBA
“I feel such satisfaction, we did this in style and as a team,” Beit Halachmi said following the game. “This was just such a great week with seriousness from the players and staff to meet the goal that we set. We have a lot of talent on this team and if we defend the way we did and control the rebounds we will have a lot of success. I am so proud of the guys, we deserved this and I hope we will have many moments of joy. The window was just very special from beginning to end as to how we were all together as one, from players to staff whether it was at the hotel or at practice. Everyone here contributed and the atmosphere was tremendous and we are so proud of the team.”

Yam Madar – Photo credit: FIBA
The game’s MVP Yam Madar spoke about the victory, “We had a great game and I am so happy that we advanced, it’s great. We worked so hard and we all wanted to come into this window ad give our best and I’m thrilled to be a part of this national team. Everyone did a great job and we did it together each one of us played important minutes.”

Tomer Ginat – Photo credit: FIBA
Tomer Ginat also reflected on the win and advancing to the Eurobasket, “It’s amazing, this was a great win after a poor first half, but this is incredible that we advanced to the EuroBasket in just 4 qualifying games. The minute we came together last week we knew that there was a great atmosphere around the team and we all wanted to come and succeed together. We felt this way the entire time and this was a great window for us.”

Photo credit: FIBA
Artem Pustovyi dunked to get the game underway for Ukraine while Tomer Ginat scored Israel’s first points, Andrii Voinalovych and Oleksandr Kovliar, Ben Saraf came back with points but Pustovyi gave Vitaly Stepanovskyy’s squad a 16-11 lead after ten minutes of play.

Khadeen Carrington – Photo credit: FIBA
Khadeen Carrington led off the second quarter with a fadeaway, Volodymyr Koniev responded, Putovyi dunked as did Roman Sorkin while Kovliar and Carrington traded triples but Ukraine stayed in front 25-22 with 5:14 left in the first half. Pustovyi continued his inspired play, Issuf Sanon scored, while Koniev went from the inside and outside to bump up their advantage to 40-29 at halftime.

Yam Madar – Photo credit: FIBA
Carrington began the third quarter with a layup while Madar went from the inside and outside but Pustovyi and Sanon scored to keep the visitors in front 48-37 midway through the period. Sorkin hit a deuce and the triple, Oleksandr Lypovyy came back with points from deep, but Sorkin and Madar kept filling the basket to pull to within one point, 57-56 after thirty minutes of end-to-end action.

Ben Saraf – Photo credit: FIBA
Ben Saraf scored to open up the fourth quarter and then sent Ginat a perfect pass for a deuce and added a triple, Itay Segev put in points while Saraf beat his man to the left and scored off the glass to give Israel a 69-62 lead with 5:43 remaining in regulation time. Madar scored a tremendous 3-pointer from dead center, Saraf again scored in the paint and then drilled home a 3-pointer, Sorkin found points and Carrington nailed a pair from downtown to close out the game and advance to this coming summer’s European Championship.
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