In the U-20 EuroBasket semi-final held in Slovakia, the Ukrainian national team secured a convincing victory over Portugal with a score of 81:61. This success not only advanced the Ukrainians to the tournament final but also guaranteed the team a promotion in class — a return to the elite Division A.
Dominance from the First Minutes
The match began with high intensity. Already in the first quarter, the Ukrainian team, led by Dmytro Zabirchenko, created serious problems for the opponent. Although the lead after the first period was small — just four points (42:25 at halftime) — it was in the second quarter that the "yellow-blues" completely seized the initiative.
The second half of the game was dictated by the Ukrainian team. Despite Portugal's attempts to narrow the gap in the third quarter, the Ukrainians maintained control over the flow of the match. Before the final ten minutes, the score gap reached 20 points. The task of the concluding period — to prevent a collapse — was successfully accomplished.
Match Leaders
A bright leader of the game was Gryshchuk, who brought the team 23 points, added 11 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 steals, and 2 assists. Sushkin also made a significant contribution with 19 points, despite 4 turnovers. Emu also distinguished himself with 8 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 assists. Koryl and Gogulenko (6 points each) also stood out in the starting lineup, while Romanitsa added 12 points.
The Final and a Historic Achievement
The Ukrainian U-20 national team became the first team in the tournament not to lose a single match. In the final, they are set to face the Icelandic national team, which defeated Sweden 84:76 in their semi-final.
The victory over Portugal was not just another success but a key moment in the history of Ukrainian youth basketball — the team has returned to the top division of European basketball, opening new horizons for talent development and international recognition.
