Israel's U20 Basketball Team Falls to Slovenia in Euro Championship Quarterfinals

Israel's under-20 basketball team was eliminated from the European Championship after a 95-87 loss to Slovenia in the quarterfinals on July 30, 2026. Coached by Nadav Zilberstein, the Israeli squad had remained undefeated until this match and aimed to continue their impressive run following a strong performance against Denmark. Despite the defeat, Israel still has a chance to qualify for the FIBA U20 World Cup by winning a classification game against the loser of Spain or Greece.

David Moses led Israel with 24 points, supported by Aviv Aronov's 20 points. However, Slovenia's Stefan Joksimovic dominated the game with 28 points and 10 rebounds, spearheading a crucial run before halftime that put Israel on the back foot. Israel showed resilience in the final quarter, briefly taking the lead at 78-77, but Slovenia quickly regained control, benefiting from a significant rebounding advantage (50-38).

Israel's journey in the tournament ended, but the team showcased a talented new generation of players. Moses averaged 23.8 points and 12.2 rebounds per game throughout the championship, while Aronov led the tournament in scoring with an average of 24.4 points per game. The team’s performance reflects a promising future despite falling short of the title.