Ukraine’s U-20 Squad Gears Up for European Championship
Ukraine’s men’s U-20 basketball team is intensifying preparations for the European Championship Division B. Under head coach Dmytro Zabirchenko, the squad recently played two exhibition games in Riga against Israel, a team competing in Division A. Both matches ended in losses for the Ukrainians: the first 67–86 and the second 59–78. Maksym Hryshchuk emerged as the top scorer for Ukraine U-20 across both games, tallying a total of 34 points.
The U-20 team is set to face Estonia in another friendly on July 2. The Division B European Championship will take place from July 10 to 19 in Bratislava, Slovakia. During the group stage, Ukraine’s young basketball players will take on teams from:
- Estonia
- Georgia
- Switzerland
- Luxembourg
Senior National Team in World Cup Qualifiers
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s senior men’s national team continues its campaign in the 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifiers. In the fourth round, the team lost to Spain 78–64, following a 86–66 defeat to the same opponent in the third round. However, Ukraine secured victories in the second round against Denmark (88–71) and in the first round against Georgia (92–79). Oleksandr Kovliar was the standout performer in the Georgia game, scoring 31 points over 37 minutes. In that same match, Viacheslav Bobrov recorded a double-double with 11 points and 15 rebounds.
The mood is positive. This is a very strong team, and playing against such a high-level opponent was a huge learning experience for us. In the first game, we played well and fought until the end, but we had a poor third quarter, which turned out to be decisive. In the second match, we started off shaky, then tried to catch up and fix our mistakes. We only managed to improve a bit in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough. I think we executed our plays well in certain moments. At the same time, we had too many turnovers, which allowed the opponent to score easy fast-break points. That largely determined the outcome. These games were very valuable because Israel plays tough, physical basketball, attacks well, and drives to the basket effectively. This will help us prepare better for our upcoming friendlies against Estonia and Latvia.
Maksym Hryshchuk
The U-20 team’s preparation for the European Championship is a critical phase, as these exhibition matches help identify weaknesses and refine gameplay ahead of the tournament. Losses to a strong side like Israel can serve as motivation for player development. At the same time, the senior national team is facing challenges in World Cup qualifying, highlighting the need for improvement across all levels. These developments underscore the importance of adapting and nurturing young athletes in the competitive landscape of European basketball.
As the U-20 team faces tough competition in their preparations for the European Championship, the recent losses highlight the challenges ahead. This situation serves as a wake-up call for Ukrainian basketball, emphasizing the need for improvement before the major tournament. Understanding the hurdles faced by both the youth and senior teams is crucial for their development and future success.