The Ukrainian U-20 national basketball team has made a significant leap in its history. In the semi-final match of the EuroBasket tournament held in Slovakia, the Ukrainian juniors secured a convincing victory over the Portuguese national team. This success not only propelled the team to the tournament final but also officially guaranteed their promotion to the elite Division A.
A Victory Built on Discipline
The match began with high intensity. The Ukrainian team immediately set an aggressive pace, causing serious trouble for the opponent right from the first quarter. By halftime, the score was still close, with Ukraine holding a slim four-point lead. However, in the second period, the "yellow-blues" completely seized the initiative. Going into halftime, the team coached by Dmytro Zabirchenko held a solid 17-point lead — 42:25.
In the third quarter, the Portuguese attempted to close the gap, but control of the game remained with the Ukrainians. Before the final ten minutes, the lead reached 20 points. In the closing stages, the Ukrainian team's task was simply to maintain their advantage, which they successfully accomplished. The final score was 81:61 in favor of the Ukrainian national team.
Match Leaders
Several players stood out among the victors, whose efforts were key to the triumph. The leader of the match was Gryshchuk, who recorded a double-double: 23 points, 11 rebounds, along with 3 blocks, 2 steals, and 2 assists. Sushkin also made a significant contribution, scoring 19 points (with 4 turnovers). Emu excelled in rebounding with 8 points and 15 rebounds, though he also had 5 turnovers. Other contributors included Romanytsia with 12 points, Gogulenko and Korol (who started the game) with 6 points each, and Upyr with 3 points. Nik Marchenko and Sytar did not score in this match.
The Final and Prospects
Now, the Ukrainian team faces the challenge of fighting for the tournament gold. In the final, they will meet the Icelandic national team, which defeated Sweden 84:76 in their semi-final. Regardless of the final's outcome, this is already a victory for the Ukrainian team: they are guaranteed a return to Division A. Notably, throughout the entire tournament, the Ukrainian national team did not lose a single match, demonstrating stability and strength.
