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ISR
24
22
18
21
BEL
8
15
26
19
Maor Sela orchestrated Israel U16's 85–68 win over Belgium U16 with a triple-double that defined the Classification Game 13–14: 27 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists across 31 minutes, shooting 10/14 from the field and 6/6 from the line. His control of the game at both ends—two steals to one turnover ratio—gave the hosts a commanding 17-point margin.
The result secured 13th place for Israel U16 in FIBA U16 EuroBasket Division A, with Belgium U16 finishing 14th. For Israel, it was a closing statement after a grueling campaign; for Sela, the performance crystallised what he had brought throughout—efficient scoring paired with the kind of playmaking and awareness that kept the team's offence fluid even when the outcome was already settled.
Israel U16 · 31 min★★★★★
27 pts10 reb10 ast115.0 TIB EFF
Maor Sela orchestrated a complete performance to steer Israel U16 to a 17-point victory over our young Lions. The 16-year-old finished with 27 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in 31 minutes, shooting 10 of 14 from the field and a perfect 6 for 6 from the line—a near-flawless efficiency that defined the gap between the two sides in Oradea.
Belgium U16 couldn't sustain enough offensive rhythm to mount a serious challenge as the match slipped away. The final scoreline, 85–68, reflected a performance where Israel's control and our youngsters' inability to capitalize on their moments proved decisive.
The defeat closes the campaign with a 14th-place finish at FIBA U16 EuroBasket Division A. It's a tournament our squad will need to learn from as they build toward the next cycle.
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ISR
24
22
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8
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26
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Israel's U16s never let our young Lions get within striking distance. A 26-point lead at one stage in the second quarter—35-9 at that moment—set the tone for a wire-to-wire win that finished 85-68, comfortable and controlled from start to finish.
Belgium came out cold. The first quarter ended 24-8, and a devastating 15-0 run pushed Israel's advantage to 33-8 mid-second before settling into a 46-23 halftime lead. Our boys fought back in the third, outscoring their opponents 26-18 to make it 64-49 heading into the final frame, but Israel held firm in the fourth, 21-19, to seal the 17-point margin.
Maor Sela ran the show for Israel: 27 points on efficient 10/14 shooting, 10 rebounds and 10 assists—a triple-double performance that dictated pace and accuracy. Ido Ziv added 20 points on 8/13 from the field, including 4/9 from three.
Youssef Zagdoud led Belgium with 20 points—though 11 of his 14 shots missed—and 6 assists, while Alexander Triki (11 points on 5/8 shooting) and Mats Pepermans (10 points, 4 steals) provided solid support. The gap in execution, especially early, proved too wide to overcome.
Our young Lions finish 14th in Division A. A tough campaign ends here.
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ISR
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22
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8
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26
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Youssef Zagdoud has put together a different class of tournament so far. The Belgian playmaker sits at 70.5 TIB Efficiency with 22.5 points and 5.3 assists per game — numbers that will draw heavy scrutiny when Israel U16 arrives in Oradea with Maor Sela, who's averaging 14.7 points and 3 assists at 57.7 TIB Efficiency.
This is the matchup that defines the game. Sela is a capable all-around guard for the Israelis, but he's operating at a different tempo than our young Lion. When Zagdoud's at the controls, the entire Belgian offense moves with intent; when he's off, the rhythm stalls. Israel will likely target him defensively and dare the supporting cast to beat them. Our boys have answered that call elsewhere in the tournament, but the consistency will matter here.
Tip-off is in just under three hours. Catch it live.
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