Ilya Tirtshnyk, a guard for the Ukrainian national basketball team, has officially settled on his next club and will continue his career in Italy. According to Sport RBC.UA, citing the official website of the Ukrainian Basketball Federation, the player has signed a contract with 'Esperia Olympia' from Cagliari. Thus, the Ukrainian basketball player, who has already established himself in Italian basketball as one of the league's top scorers, will remain in the country where he spent the last two seasons.
Presentation in Cagliari
The 'Esperia Olympia' press office presented Tirtshnyk to the fans as one of the most dangerous and productive offensive players in the entire division. For the Cagliari club, which will be competing for points in the fourth-strongest division in Italy in the upcoming season, acquiring such a sharpshooter looks like a significant boost to its offensive potential. Judging by the wording of the press release, the Ukrainian guard immediately became one of the key figures in the new roster.
Statistics with Italian Clubs
The numbers from his previous seasons in Italy confirm Tirtshnyk's status as one of the league's leading offensive players. In the 2023/24 season, playing for 'Viola Reggio Calabria,' he became the division's top scorer, averaging 22.3 points per game. A year later, in the 2024/25 season, with 'Basket Academy Catanzaro,' the guard helped the team reach the playoffs, posting averages of 19.4 points and 21.2 efficiency points per match. His consistently high level of scoring over two seasons became the basis for 'Esperia Olympia's' interest.
The 2026/27 Season and Debut in a New Roster
In the 2026/27 season, 'Esperia Olympia' will compete in Serie B Interregionale — the fourth-strongest division in Italian basketball. The Cagliari team will play in the North/West Conference of the Sardinia region. The Ukrainian guard's debut in his new uniform will take place on September 26–27: in the framework of Matchday 1 of the championship, 'Esperia Olympia' will play away against 'Novipiu Monferrato.' For Tirtshnyk, this will be his first test with the new club and the start of another stage of his Italian journey.
Career Context
The move to 'Esperia Olympia' continues the line of Tirtshnyk's career development in Italy, where he has already established himself among the league's leaders in scoring. Combining club appearances with his duties for the Ukrainian national team makes him one of the notable representatives of Ukrainian basketball on the European stage. The next important milestone for the player will be the start of the 2026/27 season and the first matches in Cagliari, which will show how quickly the guard adapts to the tactics of his new team.
