Ukraine Announces Squad for Crucial World Cup 2027 Qualifier Against Georgia

Ukraine's Roster for the 2027 FIBA World Cup Qualifying Match

According to Главком: Ukraine's basketball coaching staff has unveiled the 12-player lineup for their upcoming World Cup 2027 qualifier against Georgia, set for July 2 at 6:30 PM local time in Riga's Xiaomi Arena. The final roster notably excludes guards Mykhailo Bublik and Yehor Sushkin, as well as big man Daniil Sypal. This match is pivotal for Ukraine as they aim to strengthen their bid for a spot in the global tournament.

Spain currently leads Group G with a perfect 4-0 record. Ukraine sits in second place with two wins and two losses, tied with Georgia on balance but ahead on head-to-head results. Denmark remains winless in the qualification campaign, languishing at the bottom of the group.

In earlier qualifiers, Ukraine fell to Spain twice: 78-64 in the fourth round and 86-66 in the third round. However, they bounced back with an 88-71 victory over Denmark in round two. Their most impressive performance came in the opening match, a dominant 92-79 win against Georgia. Oleksandr Kovliar starred in that game with 31 points, while Oleksandr Lypovyi added 13 points and Viacheslav Bobrov recorded a double-double with 11 points and 15 rebounds.

Ukraine's Full Squad for the Georgia Match

• Oleksandr Kovliar (Budućnost, Montenegro), first coach Volodymyr Ponko
• Denys Lukashov (Rīgas Zeļļi, Latvia), first coach Iryna Nasiedkina
• Illia Tyrtyshnyk (Basket Academy Catarzano, Italy), first coaches Iryna Riabukha, Andrii Denik
• Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (Utah Jazz, NBA), first coach Oleksandr Molchanov
• Ivan Tkachenko (Zadar, Croatia), first coaches Anatolii Fedorenko, Yevhen Tkachenko
• Oleksandr Kobzystyi (University of Oregon, NCAA), first coach Viktor Kobzystyi
• Andrii Voinalovych (Sabah, Azerbaijan), first coach Lesia Poluiachtova
• Artem Kovalov (Yankee Arc, Taiwan), first coach Volodymyr Mashyra
• Viacheslav Bobrov (Dinamo, Romania), first coaches Serhii Bordeichuk, Oleksandra Ivlieva
• Daniil Shelist (Oviedo, Spain), first coach José Antonio Campoy
• Maksym Klychko (East Carolina University, NCAA), first coach Frankie Marulanda
• Dmytro Skapintsev (Hapoel Jerusalem, Israel), first coach Anatolii Fedorenko

This clash holds immense significance for Ukraine's World Cup qualification hopes. A win against Georgia would not only avenge any doubts but also dramatically improve their chances of advancing to the final tournament. The matchup carries extra weight given the historical sports rivalry between the two nations. The outcome will likely shape Ukraine's strategy for the remaining qualifiers.