Ukraine's Basketball Team Stuns Lithuania with Away Victory

Head Coach of Ukraine's National Team Shares His Thoughts

According to Главком: Ukraine’s head basketball coach, Ainars Bagatskis, weighed in on his team’s 96–92 friendly win over Lithuania, which took place on Lithuanian soil. Bagatskis emphasized the significance of beating one of Europe’s elite teams in their own arena:

“Of course, we’re thrilled-it’s always satisfying to defeat a top European side on their home court. Winning against Lithuania in Lithuania carries a lot of weight. It shows we’ve done something right. In basketball, the most important thing is getting the win.” - Ainars Bagatskis

For this matchup, Ukraine’s roster included Kovliar, while the point guard duties were split among Kovliar, Lukashov, and Mykhailiuk. Bagatskis focused on the team’s performance quality:

“The quality of play could’ve been a bit better-we need to improve and work on the finer details. We have to be smarter in certain situations. Today was a different game since we had Kovliar on the floor.” - Ainars Bagatskis

On July 2, Ukraine will play a nominally 'home' game in Riga against Georgia as part of the 2027 World Cup qualifiers. This match is crucial, as Ukraine previously beat Georgia 92–79 in November last year. Additionally, the team will face Denmark on July 5 in Copenhagen.

Bagatskis’ squad currently holds 6 points and sits second in their group. Spain leads the quartet with a perfect 4–0 record and 8 points. The top three teams from the group will advance to the second round of qualification for the 2027 World Cup.

“We made some changes in the rotation for this game-I won’t go into detail. We tweaked a few things defensively, but not much. Physical play was the key factor. Now we need to stay grounded. Every game matters, but the real, most important match comes in four days,” Bagatskis concluded.

Ukraine’s Path Forward

This victory over Lithuania highlights Ukraine’s potential ahead of key World Cup qualifying matches. Beyond the win itself, the team’s readiness will be tested in upcoming games against Georgia and Denmark, which will determine Ukraine’s chances of reaching the second qualification round.

• Game against Georgia - July 2
• Game against Denmark - July 5

Bagatskis’ remarks about the need to sharpen their gameplay also suggest that the team is aiming for even higher performance levels in the near future.

While Ukraine celebrated a remarkable victory over Lithuania, it's essential to consider their recent challenges as well. The team's performance was put to the test in a previous exhibition match, where they faced a tough defeat against Angola. This loss highlighted areas for improvement that the coaching staff is keenly aware of as they prepare for upcoming qualifiers. For more insights on that match and its implications for Ukraine's basketball journey, check out this detailed report on their heartbreaking loss to Angola here.