Israel’s unbeaten U18 run ends against Slovenia, but World Cup hopes remain alive

ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFFJULY 31, 2026 04:55Israel’s impressive unbeaten run at the FIBA Under-18 European Championship came to an end on Thursday as the blue-and-white squad fell 95-87 to Slovenia in the quarterfinals, ending its hopes of competing for the continental title.Despite the defeat, coach Nadav Zilberstein’s team still has plenty to play for, as it will now battle for fifth place, with a win in its next game securing a berth at next year’s FIBA U19 World Cup.Israel entered the knockout clash full of confidence after a strong tournament and an emphatic win over Denmark, but Slovenia proved to be its toughest test yet. The Slovenians were led by standout forward Stefan Joksimovic, who dominated with 28 points and 10 rebounds while helping his team control the glass, finishing with a commanding 50-38 rebounding advantage.Israel made an encouraging start behind another outstanding performance from David Moses, who scored 24 points, while Aviv Aronov added 20 as the two offensive stars continued the form that had carried the team throughout the tournament.The Israelis held a narrow lead after the opening quarter before Slovenia rallied to take a 49-44 advantage into halftime.Israel National Basketball Team head coach Ariel Beit Halachmi (credit: YEHUDA HALICKMAN)One more victory could earn Israel a spot at next World CupZilberstein’s players showed the resilience that has defined their tournament, erasing the deficit in the second half and briefly reclaiming the lead at 78-77 early in the fourth quarter. However, Slovenia responded with a decisive run, capitalizing on its rebounding edge and timely shooting to pull away in the closing minutes.Although the quarterfinal loss ended Israel’s medal aspirations, the tournament has highlighted the promise of another talented generation. Moses has averaged 23.8 points and 12.2 rebounds per game, while Aronov has led the championship in scoring at 24.4 points per contest.Israel will now shift its focus to the classification games, knowing that one more victory could earn the nation a coveted place at next summer’s FIBA U19 World Cup.Follow us on Google