Basketball player of the Ukrainian national team Lipovy: Everyone says that our main competitor is Portugal, but now we need to concentrate on Israel and take two victories

Alexander Lipovyswingman Ukrainian national basketball teamcommented on the upcoming matches with Israel national team in qualification for EuroBasket 2025.

“We have already analyzed the videos, watched Israel’s games. During training we worked against their defense. Only our experience and our energy will give us the strength to win these matches. They have many players who play in the Eurocup, they have two players who play in the Euroleague – Madar and Sorkin. We need to focus on these basketball players; they also have performers who attack well from the perimeter.”

“Bliznyuk and Sanon are having a very good season. We have a good back line. Yes, Vova Gerun and our players from America did not come, but overall I think that everyone is in optimal shape. Artem Pustovoy is also having a good season. We have great players in all positions, so first of all we have to play our game and always play to our strengths.”

“I believe that we should not think ahead, we must understand that we must win every match now. Everyone says that our main competitor is Portugal, but we have to be concentrated in every game. We lost to Slovenia in the end, Portugal bombarded us with three-pointers and we lost by two points. Therefore, now we need to concentrate on Israel and take two victories.”

Ukraine will play a nominally “home” match with Israel in Riga on Saturday, November 23. The meeting starts at 18:00 Kyiv time. 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 dramatically lost to Portugal (77:79).