1.
Israel's reserve team has passed a major character test.
First game, with all the excitement, and uncertainty - always hard to win.
It's even harder to win with the European champion crown on your head, and even harder to win when you lose 16 points and are tied for a few minutes to finish.
Oren Aharoni's team went through all these obstacles not least thanks to its coordinator - Amit Aharoni - his son, but mainly with the help of character.
A quarter and a bit everything flowed and flowed as in the book.
The sequel was much less good.
After 25 points in the first quarter, Israel did not pass the 17th mark in the following quarters.
She lost 20 balls and still knew how to win and showed that even if she did not take a third consecutive European title she would be a factor in this championship as well.
In the championship method all four teams in the early house advance to the next stage.
The task of the team is to position as high as possible to get in the quarterfinals a more comfortable opponent than the corresponding house.
With this victory, Israel put itself in contention for first place at home.
Amit Aharoni.
The victory - much thanks to the coordinator, Photo: FIBA, official website
With
all the satisfaction from the victory and the proof from the very beginning that Noam Dovrat is above all, there are quite a few questions.
For example: how the team will deal with teams that have a target player in color.
What to do with the relative weakness in position number 4.
On the other hand, a big question that was already before the championship received an initial and positive answer.
There were no falls of 2.20 in the Israeli national team, so it was not clear how they would use Gilad Levy and how he would fit into the national team, whose hallmark is playing at a high pace and a lot of threes.
Levy passed his first test in a good way and the team passed his combination test and adjusting the style to the minutes he is on the field.
He demonstrated a defensive presence and on offense was a significant factor rather than a player going up and down without seeing a ball.
Ariel Beit Halachmi, who won the two European Championships with the reserve, said this week in an interview with Israel Today that he is "the project of Israeli basketball."
Gilad Levy.
The team passed its integration test well, Photo: FIBA, official website
The
pace and dynamics of these championships are high.
Less than 24 hours after Greece, the team will meet today (Sunday, 15:15) Portugal - the rival on paper the least good at home.
Portuguese basketball is not a significant factor in Europe, and it is precisely in these things that the risk lies.
The quick transition from game to game is not easy.
Being a favorite is not easy.
Portugal lost to Italy last night, not before it made it quite difficult for them and proved that it would not be easy.
Please note: Last week the list of the leading players in the championship was published on the FIBA website and the one who is there is the 17-year-old forward (2.07 m) only (the championship up to the age of 20) Ruben Fry, a player from Portugal. A club that is very well known for developing its young players.
Ruben Fry from Portugal.
It will make life difficult for us, Photo: FIBA, official website
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