ISR - Making progress

TEL AVIV (EuroBasket/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Israel coach Arik Shivek isn't overly concerned about collecting wins during the warm-up period for major tournaments.

When he finishes his career, no one will care about the victories and defeats in friendly games.

All that will matter will be the results of games that Shivek's team played in the EuroBasket, both the Qualification Round and in the Final Round.

As the Israelis get ready for the real games next month against France, Germany, Great Britain, Belgium and Ukraine in Group A, Shivek wants to see progress and he did at the Trentino Basket Cup in Italy.

Shivek's side prevailed only against Poland (81-65) and fell in close games to Italy (67-64) and Georgia (79-77).

"It was important for me to let some of the bench players play more minutes because we will need them later on," Shivek said.

"Overall this (Trentino) was a good preparation tournament.

"We are returning home a better team than we were when we left and I hope everyone will be fit for the trip to Belgium."

Shivek's didn't have the services of starters Yotam Halperin and Alex Tyus against Georgia because both were carrying knocks.

Israel will next face the Belgians this weekend as they resume their preparations for the EuroBasket, which tips off 4 September.

At next month's tournament, the top six sides will book places at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.

If Spain are in the first six, then the top seven teams will progress.

FIBA