You’d have to carry an M-16

Forward of their knockout sport towards Giannis Antetokounmpo and Greece, Israel coach Ariel Beit-Halahmy hilariously described how his workforce deliberate to cease the Greek star. Greece and Israel confronted off on Saturday within the Spherical of 16 of the 2025 FIBA EuroBasket in Xiaomi Enviornment in Riga, Latvia.

“You’d have to carry an M-16, I feel,” Beit-Halahmy stated on Saturday, per Haaretz’ Arie Livnat. “That will be (the) simplest way.”

The Giannis Antetokounmpo-led Greece eradicated Israel 84-79 to advance to the quarterfinals. The 2-time NBA MVP led his nation with 37 factors and 10 rebounds on 18-for-23 capturing.

On the opposite finish, Israel was led by Portland Path Blazers ahead Deni Avdija, who scored 22 factors on 5-for-11 capturing, together with 4-for-8 from 3-point vary.

After the knockout sport, Beit-Halahmy praised Antetokounmpo:

“One of many high three gamers on the earth, his sport could be very robust and distinctive, and there’s not a lot you are able to do.”

Within the group section, Israel positioned fourth in Group D with a 3-2 document. In the meantime, Greece topped Group C with a 4-1 document. Its lone loss got here towards Bosnia and Herzegovina (80-77), a sport through which Antetokounmpo missed.

In 4 EuroBasket video games up to now, Antetokounmpo is averaging 30.0 factors, 9.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists per sport on 72.5% capturing.

Lithuania’s Jonas Valančiūnas feedback on the quarterfinal matchup towards Giannis Antetokounmpo and Greece

Saturday’s win towards Israel arrange a quarterfinal conflict between the Giannis Antetokounmpo-led Greece and Lithuania, led by Denver Nuggets heart Jonas Valančiūnas. Lithuania defeated host Latvia 88-79 of their Spherical of 16 conflict.

On Monday, Valančiūnas spoke to the media to debate his workforce’s preparations towards Greece and Antetokounmpo.

“We spent two days, really one full day, getting ready for the Greek nationwide workforce,” Valančiūnas stated. “They’re a great workforce with weapons, particularly as a capturing workforce. They’ve Giannis, who’s very robust individually, so we now have to do a great job. We ready, we now have a sport plan, and tomorrow we’ll present it.”

Greece and Lithuania are set to face off on Tuesday. Like Greece, Lithuania went 4-1 within the group stage, with its lone loss coming towards undefeated Germany. Tuesday’s winner will advance to the semifinals to tackle both Poland or Turkey, led by Houston Rockets star Alperen Sengun.