Stepanovsky: Players who were injured in the previous window will be added to the national team matches

Head coach Ukrainian men’s basketball team Vitaly Stepanovsky commented on the team’s application for matches with Israel in qualification for EuroBasket 2025.

“Firstly, there is still time before the matches and I would like all the players who are on the extended roster to join the ranks of the national team. We will have our first training session on the evening of November 18th and will have a total of six training sessions before the first match.”

“There is no information yet about the composition of the opponent, especially since Euroleague matches will take place on November 21 and 22, in which Israeli national team players can play. When Israel officially announces the squad for the first match, we will draw conclusions, plus, perhaps, the clubs will release the players only for the second qualifying match, which will take place on November 25. Many of their players play for Maccabi, Madar plays in Bayern – with them, of course, it’s a completely different team, although without these players the Israelis have enough strong players playing in the EuroCup and the Champions League.”

“I can say that compared to the first playing window, there will be more players who were injured. They are in good shape and getting enough playing time at their clubs. We will have a good back line in the persons of Kovlyar, Zotov, Sidorov, Sanon. I am very glad that Bogdan Bliznyuk has resumed his career. We talked with him, he really wants to come to the national team and help the team. Plus, the team will have experienced Alexander Lipovy, who is now also getting in shape and will definitely be able to help the team with his experience.”

“In the last window we had a problem with centers, but thanks to the summer training camp, when we were able to test our youth, we added Rostislav Novitsky to the squad, who plays quite well for Valmiera. We are also adding youth to the lineup – Daniil Sypalo, who has proven himself as a member of Dnepr. So far we have only seen him at the U-20 European Championship and this will be his first call-up to the national team. The same applies to Maxim Klitschko. This will be an important and responsible moment for the guys – a debut call to the main team during the official window. That’s why we now have a squad that has experienced players, to which we add youth.”

“Everyone is on equal terms, I think there will be no specifics here. It is clear that after the first match there may be substitutions and, I think, first of all, changes may be made to the roster for the second match in Israel – the above-mentioned players from the Euroleague may join. So the game plan may be completely different.”

“Of course, very important matches await us. We must make the most of our, so to speak, home ground, because Riga became our second home during the great war in Ukraine. We have to give our best in this window and not think about the final matches in February.”

Ukraine will play a nominally “home” match with Israel in Riga on November 23. The meeting starts at 18:00. The second meeting will take place at the same Arena Riga venue, where the Israelis will be the “hosts”. The fight will take place on November 25.

The Ukrainian national team played its last official matches back in February. In the first round of EuroBasket 2025 qualifying, the blue-yellows lost away to Slovenia (73:87), and then lost to Portugal (77:79).