Last update - 00:00 23/08/2007
EuroBasket '07 / Additional qualifying tournament / Israel sees off late Ukraine surge to win 68-63
By Haaretz Correspondent and Agencies , By Arie Livnat
Israel defeated Ukraine 68-63 in Kiev last night to all but secure a place in the EuroBasket 2007 Additional Qualifying Tournament.
Zvi Sherf's team has now won all five of its Additional Qualifying Round games in Group C and unless it loses by 20 points or more in its final game against Belgium Saturday night, it will advance to the three-team round-robin for the last ticket to the European Championship
Yotam Halperin led Israel with 19 points, while Meir Tapiro scored eight of his 16 points in the fourth quarter and added four assists to hold off a Ukranian comeback.
Ido Kozikaro filled in for Lior Eliyahu, who was let off the visit to Kiev in order to attend his brother's wedding. Kozikaro stepped up his game to hit 12 points and bring down nine rebounds, including four on offense. Yaniv Green sunk nine points.
Center Serhiy Lishchuk topped all scorers for Ukraine with 24 points and added eight rebounds.
Ukraine travels to Denmark on Saturday to try to avoid having to play in the relegation tournament.
Israel's game centered on the 32-year-old Tapiro yesterday and when the guard went to the bench to rest in the third quarter, Ukraine cut the visitors' lead from seven points (46-39) to just one (51-50).
Rostyslav Kryvych's three-pointer 43 seconds into the fourth quarter leveled the score at 54, but Tapiro nailed a jumper for a 56-54 lead, and then Green added two free throws and a two-pointer to stretch the advantage to six points.
When Kryvych reduced the arrears to 62-57, Tapiro made another jump shot to extend the lead back to seven.
Lishchuk stepped outside and buried a three-pointer to trim the deficit to 64-60, but Tapiro replied again with another jump shot.
Belgium beat Denmark 71-61 to improve to 4-1. Christophe Beghin led Belgium with 23 points, and Axel Hervelle followed with 17 points and eight rebounds. Hervelle, who plays for Real Madrid, was just four of 16 from the field but made seven of eight attempts from the free-throw line.
"It was an ugly game," admitted Sherf, "But the important thing is that we won despite difficult conditions. Ukraine played a style of game that took us a while to adapt to. Ido Kozikaro played a standout game and made up for the absence of Lior Eliyahu."
Looking ahead to the game against Belgium, Sherf said: "We aren't looking at how many points they need, we are going to Belgium to win."
"We expected a tough game, because Ukraine is fighting relegation and we are fighting for a place in the next round," said Kozikaro. "Eliyahu is an important player, but in his absence it was natural that I was given more time on the court and I am glad that I played a good game."