Semifinals Bound: Men’s Teams Battle for the Gold

	1	2	3	4	F
Ukraine	26	18	24	21	89
Australia	9	6	5	13	33

Tokyo, Japan – In a commanding performance, Ukraine’s men’s basketball team cruised past Australia 89-33 to earn their place in the Summer Deaflympics Semifinals. From the opening tip, Ukraine controlled the game, building a massive lead and never letting up.

Key contributors included Pavlo Bondarenko, who led all scorers with 21 points, and Yevhen Brechko, adding a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Yaroslav Stryzhak chipped in 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Oleksandr Fomenko and Oleksandr Levanovych each added 10 points, showcasing the depth of the Ukrainian squad.

Ukraine dominated in every aspect of the game, scoring 56 points in the paint, 19 second-chance points, and 18 fast-break points. The team also capitalized on turnovers, converting them into 19 points. Bench players contributed 48 points, reflecting the team’s strong depth.

Australia faced challenges throughout the matchup, with Lachlan Jackson scoring 10 points and Thomas Ginger adding 8, but the team could not match Ukraine’s relentless pressure on both ends of the floor. Ukraine’s efficiency on offense combined with their defensive intensity made the outcome clear early on..

With this decisive victory, Ukraine now moves on to the Semifinals, where they will face off against Greece for a shot at the championship. Fans can expect more high-octane basketball as Ukraine looks to continue its impressive tournament run.

	1	2	3	4	F
Greece	21	15	12	17	65
Venezuela	11	10	24	16	61

Greece secured a hard-fought 65–61 victory over Venezuela to earn their place in the Semifinals of the Summer Deaflympics. In a tightly contested matchup, Greece’s discipline and timely execution in the closing minutes proved decisive.

Apollon Deligeorgis delivered a standout performance, finishing with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists—one of the most impressive triple-doubles of the tournament. Ioannis Vavatsikos added 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Rafail Petalas contributed 13 points along with strong defensive efforts. Greece’s teamwork was evident with 19 assists and strong rebounding throughout the game.

Greece controlled key stretches, scoring 30 points in the paint and remaining composed at the free-throw line. Their largest lead reached 17 points, but Venezuela fought back to keep the game within reach.

For Venezuela, captain Felix Perdomo led the team with 21 points and consistent offensive pressure. Jhonny Jimenez added 9 points and 9 rebounds, while Andrew Jimenez contributed another 9 points. Venezuela showed determination with a late push and efficient free-throw shooting.

Despite Venezuela’s comeback efforts, Greece held firm in the closing minute with key defensive stops and disciplined ball movement. With this victory, Greece advances to the Summer Deaflympics Semifinals, where they will face Ukraine in a highly anticipated semifinal matchup on 23 November at 13:00 (1:00 pm). Both teams have displayed impressive form throughout the tournament, setting the stage for an exciting battle for a place in the gold medal game.

	1	2	3	4	F
Lithuania	11	7	9	23	50
United States	11	26	24	22	83

The United States booked their place in the Summer Deaflympics Semifinals with a strong 83–50 victory over Lithuania. After a slow-paced first half in which both teams battled through shooting struggles and defensive pressure, Team USA responded with a dominant second-half performance to secure the win.

Early in the game, Lithuania showed composure and fought hard on the boards. Gediminas Zukas led the way with 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Lukas Guzauskas added 10 points and 11 rebounds. However, Lithuania’s shooting challenges—particularly from long range at 4-of-31 from three—made it difficult to maintain momentum against the American defense.

The United States shifted into a higher gear after halftime. Michael Hays-Lizarraga delivered an all-around performance with 14 points and 8 rebounds, while Blessed Mbogo added 10 points and strong interior play. The USA bench also made a significant impact, contributing 44 points, with Jory Valencia scoring 11 and Preston Kelly adding 10 on perfect shooting.

Team USA controlled the paint with 46 points, forced 28 Lithuanian turnovers, and pushed the pace in transition for 27 fast-break points. Their largest lead reached 36 as they pulled away in the final quarter.

With the win, the United States advances confidently into the tSemifnials, continuing their quest for a Deaflympics medal. Lithuania will now shift to their classification games.

	1	2	3	4	F
Poland	19	18	16	14	67
Israel	19	12	25	18	74

Israel overcame an early deficit to defeat Poland 74–67 and advance to the Semifinals of the Summer Deaflympics. Trailing by double digits in the first half, Israel gradually chipped away at Poland’s lead with disciplined offense and clutch plays down the stretch.

Yuval Vernik led Israel with 23 points and 6 rebounds, supported by Asaf Samuel adding 16 points and 4 rebounds and Rory Lewis delivered a powerful inside performance with 13 points and 15 rebounds. Maor Ben-Zeev also made a strong impact with 12 points and 8 rebounds and perfect free-throw shooting, helping Israel regain momentum in the second half. The team showed resilience and teamwork, converting turnovers into 20 points and scoring 16 fast-break points.

Poland started strong, with Edwin Silva Perez leading the way with 23 points and 13 rebounds, Pawel Wisniewski adding 13 points and 12 rebounds, and January Sobczak contributing 11 points and 7 rebounds. Despite their balanced scoring and aggressive defense, Poland could not hold off Israel’s late surge.

With this victory, Israel advances to face the United States in the Semifinals of the Summer Deaflympics on 23 November at 18:00 (6:00 pm). Both teams will look to continue their strong tournament performances in a highly anticipated matchup.