Israel – Finland 89 – 87
(16-27, 24-13, 21-18, 18-21, 10-8)
After yesterday that marked the start of this edition of Eurobasket 2022, it is up to Israel and Finland to open group D which will see their teams playing on the pitch in Prague, in the Czech Republic.
Ready, go and immediately it becomes clear that the challenge will be one of those exciting and destined to be resolved only in the last possessions. In any case, Finland comes out better from the starting blocks and thanks to supporting-cast are able to move forward in the score (16-27 at 10 ‘). After the first mini-break, however, the balance of the challenge is reversed with the “hosts” of Israel tightening the shirts in their own half of the field and grabbing a tie before returning to the locker room (40-40 to 20 ‘).
Upon returning to the parquet, the pace of the challenge remains almost the same with Avidija who begins to rise to the chair favoring a small attempt to escape from her (61-58 at 30 ‘). The last part of the game is the most classic of the point-to-point challenges with protagonists such as Markkanen (64-70 at 35) and Ginat and Blatt (73-72 at 37 ‘). We arrive at the last minute with Finland slightly ahead (76-79) after a layup of the usual Markkanen, which, however, is followed by a triple from Avdija which in fact sends the challenge to the extra time since neither the Jazz winger nor Mekel succeed. to score their respective shots.
As often happens, the first possessions of the overtime are rather confusing and then only the triple of Menco and the subsequent free ones of Avdija can unblock the situation (84-79) guaranteeing in fact the minimum margin of safety that allows Israel to win the first challenge of the group given that after the parity grabbed by Markkanen with a shot from over the arch (84-84) the Wizards and Mekel winger climb back to the chair before Kantonen’s useless triple (89-87).
TABLES
Israel: Avdija 23, Blatt 8, Ginat 13, Mekel 6, Menco 8, Cohen 9, Levi 10, Madar, Pnini 10, Sorkin, Zalmanson NE, Zoosman 2.
Finland: Jantunen 4, Koponen 7, Markkanen 33, Maxhuni 11, Salin 6, Huff 2, Kantonen 3, Little, Madsen 13, Palmi 3, Seppala NE, Valtonen 5.
Born in 2000, a great basketball fan and supporter of the Oklahoma City Thunder. He has been collaborating with BasketUniverso since January ’17. After graduating from the Liceo Scientifico of Ariano Irpino (AV), he attends the University of Bologna.
