Pnini, Youngsters, Lead Israel to Upset Win Vs Serbia/Shai Boker

It was a do-or-die game for the Israelis, as a loss to Serbia would likely eliminate them from qualifying for the Basketball World Cup 2019 in China. However, Guy Pnini, Tamir Blatt and Yovel Zoosman, wouldn’t let it happen.

First quarter: Israel 29 Serbia 24

Israel Starters: Tamir Blatt, Yovel Zoosman, Shawn Dawson, Jake Cohen, Alex Chubrevich.

Serbia Starters: Stefan Peno, Marko Simonovic, Dragan Milosavljevic, Stefan Bircevic, Miroslav Raduljica.

Shawn Dawson hit a 3-pointer from the right corner on Israel’s first possession to put them on the board first via a Tamir Blatt assist. Zoosman and Dawson quickly made it 7:2 following a nice finish from Dawson on a breakaway. The Serbs responded with six straight points, four consecutive points by Raduljica their veteran center to take their first lead. After Dawson gave Israel the lead back, the reds answered with back-to-back threes from Milosavljevic and Bircevic to go up 11:16 after the first five minutes. Djorde Gagic made a layup to put the Serbs ahead 14:20 with just over four minutes to play in the first and seemed like his team was going to run away with it. However, Israel had other plans. After a 3-pointer by the 20-year-old, Zoosman cut the lead to one, Tamir Blatt (David Blatt’s son), pulled up for deep 3 and drained it to flip the scoreboard around. The run didn’t stop there, however, as Guy Pnini who made his 150th appearance for the National team hit his favorite shot, a 3-pointer. Idan Zalmanson followed it up with a layup to put Israel up 27:20. Milosavljevic snapped a four-minute field goal drought with a floater at the buzzer, to cut the lead to five, 29:24 after 10 minutes.

Second quarter: Israel 43 Serbia 45

After a Zalmanson 3-pointer gave Israel a six-point lead, Bircevic and Branko Lazic responded by hitting two 3’s as part of an 8-2 run to tie the game at 34 apiece, forcing Katash to call a timeout. After the timeout, Tomer Ginat gave Israel the lead back with four consecutive points. But Simonovic came back with a 3 to give the Serbs a 41:43 lead. His team held a 43:45 lead going into the locker room.

Third quarter: Israel 59 Serbia 60

The reds started the third quarter well with a 3-pointer and dunk from Simonovic, followed by two more from Raduljica to take a 47:53 lead early in the third quarter. But yet again, the Israelis responded. John DiBartolomeo who made his debut with the Israeli National team hit a 3 to cut the lead in half. He then followed that with a deep two to give Israel a 54:53 lead. Guy Pnini hit yet another 3 from the wing to extend the lead to four, but thanks to a 3-pointer by Aleksa Avramovic and a layup by Simonovic. Sasha Djordjevic’s club took a 59:60 lead into the final quarter.

Fourth quarter: Israel 83 Serbia 74

In the fourth quarter Israel went on a 3-point barrage. Blatt, who didn’t have a great shooting game, but a great game overall (more on him below), hit a 3 from a Zoosman assist to start the quarter. After Avramovic returned the lead to his nation following his 3, John DiBartolomeo found Cohen open for 3, and Israel is up 65:63 a minute into the fourth. After Milosavljevic tied the game, it was all about Guy Pnini. The veteran forward went on a personal 9-3 run off of three wonderful assists, the last one coming off fantastic ball movement and Israel took a 74:68 lead.

Guy Pnini celebrate after another 3-pointer made. Went 5/7 from 3 in the win. PC: Oded Karni, Israeli Basketball Association Facebook Page

But the Serbs didn’t quit and went on a 0-6 run to tie it up at 74 with 2:31 left. Since that moment, Israel took over. Tamir Blatt broke the tie with a wild 3-pointer from way downtown. On the next possession Blatt found Zoosman for an and-1 alley-oop layup to seal the win. Your final is 83:74 as Israel keeps their World Cup hopes alive.

Blatt (left) and Zoosman (right) celebrate huge win over Serbia. PC: Oded Karni, Israeli Basketball Association Facebook Page

Game notes:

· Tamir Blatt had an all-time record for qualifiers with seven steals, breaking Zoosman’s record of 6 vs Germany in the last qualifiers window. He also had 10 points and nine assists.

· John DiBartolomeo made his Israel National Team debut, contributing seven points and three assists.

· Guy Pnini played in his 150th game with the National Team and scored 18 points on 5/7 from three.

· Zoosman continued to play well both with the National team and Maccabi Tel-Aviv recording four steals and scoring 10 points in the win.

· Shawn Dawson returned to the National Team with nine points.

· Israel shot 13/32 from beyond the arc.

· Israel finished the game on a 9-0 in the final 2:31.

· Milosavljevic lead the losers with 17 points on 7/9 shooting.

The next game for Israel is at Georgia on Monday, while Serbia hosts Greece as it hopes to stay one game ahead of Israel and Georgia entering the final qualifiers window in February. Israel and will play host to Germany and visit Serbia during the window, the Serbs will visit Estonia and host Israel.