Mentor of the Ukrainian national team – about the options with the participation of NBA players in the next matches
Head coach of the Ukrainian national team Ainars Bagatskis counts on Svyatoslav Mikhailyuk and Alexey Len in the decisive matches of the qualification of the 2023 World Cup.
In July, Ukraine will play three qualifying matches. In case of successful results, she can play two more matches at the end of August.
“The Ukrainian national team with Mikhailyuk and Len are different teams. Obviously we would like to see them in the two summer qualifying windows. We counted the number of days that are limited by the NBA and divided them into three campaigns – these are two qualifying windows and the European Championship, which we have to play in September. Everything now depends only on the desire of the players themselves,” explained Bagatskis.
“Let’s look at the situation in which the Ukrainian team found itself on the eve of the next qualifying window. We now have good chances to pass the first stage of qualification, it is very desirable that Len and Mikhailuk play in it. If we play the next window with them in August, where we play two more matches, then we have a very high chance of reaching the World Cup.”
“We all really look at things. During a player’s career, there are only a few chances to play in the World Cup. I will now express my opinion as a former player: if any basketball player has a chance to play at the World Championships and help the national team of his country to get there, then there should be no questions about motivation at all. Especially now, when in the East and South of Ukraine the guys are fighting for land under the iron rain of enemy artillery. At the same time, I know 100% that Len and Mikhailuk are ready to be with us in the August window, but their country needs them in June as well.”
“I emphasize again: in this case, everything depends on the desire of the player. Provided that the guys join the national team on June 26, they will be able to play all three matches [против Грузии, Северной Македонии и Испании], after which they can join the team on August 8 to prepare for the next qualifying window. After that, they can still play in the European Championship, and all this will fit in 28 days. I’m talking only about contact training, you can work in the national team in the format of non-contact training before that.”
“I will now say in my own words of many years ago. Still, we learned to play basketball in our own country – whether someone likes it or not – but the love for basketball and the first steps in it took place in our native country. To date, joining the national team is the only tax you have to pay as a star. Therefore, we are absolutely not unreasonably waiting for the arrival of our players from the NBA in the national team.
On July 1 and 7, Ukraine will play two nominally home qualifying matches against Georgia and Spain respectively (both will take place in Riga). On July 4, the team of Ainars Bagatskis will play away with North Macedonia.
In qualifying for the World Cup, Ukraine played three matches, defeating North Macedonia and losing away to Georgians and Spaniards. In their group, the blue-yellows take third place.
The top three teams from each group will advance to the next round of selection.
Source: Sportarena
