http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/15195/180/item
Israel became the 16th and final participant in EuroBasket 2007 after outlasting Macedonia 92-87 on Friday in Menorca, Spain. It was the final game of the last-chance qualifying tournament which had started earlier in August with eight countries. Yotam Halperin of Maccabi Tel Aviv exploded for 26 points thanks to 6-for-6 three-point shooting to lead the winners, who now advance to play in Granada, Spain against Russia, Greece and Serbia when EuroBasket 2007 starts on Monday. Meir Tapiro followed with 20 points for Israel, while Halperin's teammate at Maccabi, Lior Eliyahu, had 15, including a couple of key baskets down the stretch. Vlado Ilievski of Montepaschi Siena paced Macedonia with 24 points, while veteran guard Vrbica Stefanov had 23. Isreal led by as much as 15 points, 75-60, early in the final quarter, right after Halperin scored his last points. Macedonia made a final run for glory, however, closing within 84-81 as Ilievski scored 5 points in a row late in the quarter. Next, Eliyahu scored a basket, but Israel went cold while Ilievsi and Stefanov canned 4 consecutive free throws to make it 86-85 with 43 seconds left. After an Israeli timeout, Eliyahu came through with a jump shot. With 2 free throws, Ilievski again cut the difference to a single point, 88-87, before Yaniv Green made a layup and Dror Hagag finished the drama at the foul line for Israel.
Well done to the Israeli national team. Eurobasket 2007 is going to be one of the hardest competitions of the year.
Here are the groups for Eurobasket 2007:
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