Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics: Bronze Medal Recap

	1	2	3	4	F
Italy	14	14	10	19	57
Ukraine	20	17	16	17	70

Tokyo, Japan – Ukraine delivered a composed and confident performance in the women’s bronze medal game, securing a well-deserved victory over Italy. From the opening minutes, Ukraine established control through disciplined ball movement and strong defensive pressure, forcing Italy into tough shots and limiting their rhythm. Captain Olena Khoroshykh set the tone offensively, finishing with an efficient 17 points on 70 percent shooting while also providing leadership on both ends of the floor.

Inside the paint, Olena Ogorodnikova was a dominant force. Her 12 points and 15 rebounds gave Ukraine second-chance opportunities and denied Italy clean looks around the basket. Alongside her, Kseniia Afanasieva contributed an all-around performance with 6 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists, helping Ukraine maintain steady control throughout the game. The Ukrainian bench also stepped up in important moments, producing 27 points that shifted the momentum firmly in their favor.

Italy battled hard, led by the impressive play of Giulia Sautariello, who nearly recorded a triple-double with 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 9 assists. Simona Cascio added 12 points on efficient shooting, keeping Italy within reach at various points in the game. However, the team struggled to convert consistently, shooting just 33 percent from the field and finding it difficult to break through Ukraine’s tight defensive coverage.

In the end, Ukraine’s combination of composure, rebounding strength, and balanced scoring proved too much for Italy to overcome. With key contributions from both starters and bench players, Ukraine secured the bronze medal and closed their tournament with a performance marked by teamwork, discipline, and resilience.

	1	2	3	4	F
Greece	17	21	17	23	78
Israel	17	13	19	18	67

Greece claimed the men’s bronze medal with a strong 78–67 victory over Israel, showcasing balance, leadership, and timely scoring throughout the game. From the start, Greece established control with crisp ball movement and aggressive drives to the basket, allowing them to build rhythm early. Rafail Petalas and Apollon Deligeorgis were key in setting the tone, combining efficient shooting with steady offensive pressure to keep Israel on the back foot.

A standout performance came from Ioannis Vavatsikos, who delivered 22 points and 12 rebounds in a dominant two-way effort. His presence on the boards and ability to convert in crucial moments helped Greece maintain control whenever Israel threatened to close the gap. Alongside him, Deligeorgis added 19 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists, nearly recording a triple-double while guiding Greece’s offense with poise. Greece’s interior strength was evident, finishing with 34 points in the paint and winning the rebounding battle 47–35.

Israel fought hard and kept themselves within reach behind the scoring of Yuval Vernik (19 points) and Rory Lewis (18 points). Shay Guetta contributed with 14 points and strong rebounding, but Israel struggled to find consistent shooting from long range and relied heavily on individual plays to stay competitive. Their offense produced several short scoring bursts, yet Greece responded each time with disciplined execution and defensive stops.

In the closing minutes, Greece’s balanced scoring and composure proved decisive. With key defensive plays, timely rebounding, and efficient free-throw shooting, they secured the win and earned the bronze medal. It was a complete team effort from Greece, highlighted by resilience, teamwork, and standout performances from their core players as they finished their Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics campaign on the podium.