Israel's Youth Basketball Team Secures Top Spot in U18 European Championship Group

Israel's under-18 national basketball team clinched first place in their group at the European Championship on Sunday, defeating a strong French team 91-77. Standout players Aviv Aronov and David Moses led the victory with 31 and 25 points respectively, with Moses also grabbing eight rebounds. Coach Nadav Zilberstein praised the team's exceptional athleticism compared to other Israeli squads and highlighted their focus and talent as key factors in the win.

Zilberstein emphasized the team's disciplined man-to-man defense against France and credited their confidence to a recent comeback win against Greece, noting the players' resilience in overcoming deficits. He described Aronov as a special scorer who is learning when to take shots and when to defer, stressing the importance of nurturing young talent for the senior national team rather than focusing solely on wins.

The coach also noted strategic adjustments in player rotation that paid off, highlighting strong performances from Omri Orland, Karam Ashkenazi, and Rom Stoller. Looking ahead, Zilberstein stressed the importance of maintaining momentum and focus for the upcoming match against Austria, which is crucial for their mental and physical readiness for the decisive game on Wednesday.