Press Conference with Dmytro Zabirchenko
Following the conclusion of the 2025/26 SuperLeague regular season, Dmytro Zabirchenko, head coach of the capital's club Kyiv-Basketet, held a press conference. He stated that every team has a chance to become the champion of Ukraine and win the SuperLeague. 'If everything goes well, we have a great chance to compete for this championship. We are trying, first and foremost, to give emotions to the fans, to provide some positivity, to demonstrate good play,' Zabirchenko said, emphasizing that the team is currently focused on its first playoff match against Zaporizhzhia.
Competition in the SuperLeague
While preparing for the playoffs, the coach also shared his thoughts on the level of competition in the SuperLeague. 'I believe the level has risen, and the results throughout the season have demonstrated that. Competition has grown significantly. If in the first wartime year we had many 'passable', uninteresting games, now every one is interesting,' he noted. Zabirchenko also expressed regret over the withdrawal from the tournament of the team Kryvbasbasket, which, in his opinion, would have been competitive in the playoffs.
Additionally, the press conference discussed the results of a 2027 World Cup qualification match, where the Spanish national team defeated Ukraine with a score of 78:64. The quarter scores were:
- 16:9
- 12:12
- 24:22
- 26:21
In the third qualification game, Spain also defeated Ukraine, this time with a score of 66:86. However, in the second round, the Ukrainian team secured a victory over Denmark with a result of 88:71, and in the first qualification match, they defeated Georgia.
Dmytro Zabirchenko stressed that the team is not currently thinking about the title but is concentrating on its work and preparation for upcoming matches. 'We'll see later. The pairing of Kharkivski Sokoly and Niko-Basket is very interesting. And you never know who your next opponent will be. So far, I assess the season positively,' the coach summarized.
Playoff preparation is critically important for Kyiv-Basketet, as competition in the SuperLeague has intensified, making every match potentially decisive. The Ukrainian basketball scene continues to develop despite challenges, with domestic clubs and the national team competing actively. Zabirchenko emphasizes the emotions the team aims to deliver to fans, which could positively impact the atmosphere during games.
As Kyiv-Basketet gears up for the playoffs, it's worth noting the recent performance of the Ukrainian national team in the World Cup qualifiers. Their matches against Spain highlighted both the challenges and strengths of Ukrainian basketball. For a detailed analysis of the results and key statistics from these qualification games, you can explore this summary of Ukraine's qualification matches.