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| NEWSIsrael returned home from the Eural Trans Gas European Championship for U20 Men this week to a hero’s welcome. 250,000 fans in Israel had tuned in to watch their country’s remarkable run to the Final live on Israel’s Sports Channel. The Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals and Final were broadcast live, and the final gained a 8.3% audience share. |
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Israel's Under-20 team received a hero's welcome when they returned home from the Czech Republic after claiming the silver medal at the European Championship.
For the second time in a row, Israel lost in the final. This time they fell to Slovenia, but their supporters praised the team's efforts. |
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Slovenia are the 2004 European Champions for U20 Men. In 2002 they suffered heartbreak, losing in desperately close fashion to Croatia, who made 2 free throws at the buzzer to win 74:72.
In 2004, it was Slovenia who closed the game by making not only several clutch shots, but 6 free throws in the last 30 seconds to close out Israel. |
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12 teams, 144 players but only 5 can make the All-Star team. At the Trans Eural Gas European Championship for U20 Men the five were Yotam Halperin (ISR), Ivan Koljevic (SCG), Konstantinos Vasileiadis (GRE) Linas Kleiza (LTU) and Erazem Lorbek (SLO).
It was clear that the MVP race was between Halperin and Lorbek and it was Lorbek who received the award thanks to his side's victory in the gold medal game. |
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After being on the wrong hands of a drubbing against Slovenia in the semi-finals, Lithuania dished out some punishment of their own in the bronze medal game of the Eural Trans Gas European Championship for U20 Men.
Greece were unfortunate enough to bear the brunt of Lithuania’s anger and they went down in spectacular fashion. |
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At first glance, the final of the European Championship between Israel and Slovenia seems an unlikely pairing. Neither team were favoured to compete for a gold medal before the start of the championship and both overcame formidable quarter and semi-final opponents.
On the other hand Slovenia and Israel also possess the key ingredients needed to go all the way in a tournament. |
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Israel ran the full gamut of emotions in another thrilling game here at the Eural Trans Gas European Championship for U20 Men.
After beating Serbia & Montenegro at the buzzer in the quarter-finals, a strong Greek side stood in the way of Israel and a berth in the final. Once again, Israel faced a size deficit against their opponents and Yotmar Halperin was still feeling the effects of his ankle injury. |
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| FINAL STANDINGS |
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