The Ukrainian men's national basketball team has officially announced its roster for the final matches of the first stage of the FIBA World Cup 2027 qualifiers. In early July, Ainars Bagatskis's team faces crucial showdowns against Georgia and Denmark, which will determine their fate in the tournament.

Sensational Return of the Leader

The main event ahead of the decisive games is the return of Utah Jazz guard Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk to the national team. The NBA champion of the 2023/24 season, who won the title with the Boston Celtics, will wear the Ukrainian national team jersey for the first time in four years. He last played for the team at EuroBasket 2022.

Head coach Ainars Bagatskis does not hide his optimism regarding the leader's arrival. The coach emphasizes that the player's skill is beyond doubt, and his versatility will be a key factor for success.

"We are counting heavily on Sviat's skills. There can be no questions about his playing qualities: he is a player who knows what to do with the ball and will be useful on both ends of the floor. This is a serious reinforcement," noted Bagatskis.

Significant Roster Losses

Despite the roster reinforcement, the Ukrainian team faces several challenges. The head coach detailed significant losses that will prevent the team from playing in its optimal lineup.

Among the absentees are significant figures of the team:

  • Alex Len will miss the matches due to injury.
  • Issouf Sanon, Bohdan Blizniuk, and Vitaliy Zotov will not be able to help the team due to health issues and injuries.
  • Rostyslav Novytskyi has not fully recovered yet.
  • Alexander Lipovyi will miss the matches due to family circumstances. The coach noted that the roster would have been more versatile and mobile with him.

Preparation Schedule and Tournament Situation

Preparation for the decisive matches will begin on June 19. As part of the training camp, two friendly matches are scheduled: on June 25, the Ukrainians will play in Riga against the reigning African champions, Angola, and on June 26, they will test their strength in an away match against Lithuania in Šiauliai.

The situation in Group A of the qualifiers is as follows: Spain leads and has already secured first place. Ukraine and Georgia have an identical record (2 wins and 2 losses) and have virtually secured their advancement. Denmark rounds out the quartet without a single win.

To officially advance to the next round, the Ukrainians need to meet at least one of the conditions. The top three teams from the group will advance to the second stage of the qualifiers, where they will compete for spots at the FIBA World Cup 2027.