---
title: "Ukrainian basketball players sensationally defeat the Lithuanian national team: Mykhailiuk secures victory in a friendly match"
description: "The Ukrainian national basketball team secured an important victory over a European giant — Lithuania in a friendly match! 🔥 Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk brought the team 26 points and 7 three-pointers, while Oleksandr Kovliar added 23 points. This victory will be an excellent start before the qualification for the 2027 World Championship! 🇺🇦🏀"
date: 2026-06-28T19:38:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ukrainian-basketball-players-sensationally-defeat-lithuania-mykhailiuk-secures-victory
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Ukrainian basketball players sensationally defeat the Lithuanian national team: Mykhailiuk secures victory in a friendly match

![Ukrainian basketball players in blue jerseys discuss tactics after a sensational victory over Lithuania in a friendly match](https://xab.info/media/2026/06/28/ukrainskie-basketbolisty-sensatsionno-obygrali-sbornuyu-litvy-mihaylyuk-prines-pobedu/ukrainskie-basketbolisty-sensatsionno-obygrali-sbornuyu-litvy-mihaylyuk-prines-pobedu-1.webp)

The Ukrainian national basketball team has taken an important step in its preparation for official summer tournaments, securing a convincing victory over one of the main giants of European basketball — the Lithuanian national team. The friendly match, held in the Lithuanian city of Šiauliai, was a serious test for Ainars Bagatskis's team, proving that they are capable of competing with the strongest opponents.

### The road to victory: from an even struggle to a decisive lead

The match began under the hosts' dictate. The Lithuanians, possessing a rich history and a powerful roster, immediately engaged in aggressive play, winning the opening quarter and taking a small 4-point lead. However, the Ukrainian team was not about to accept the role of an underdog. In the second ten-minute period, the "blue-and-yellows" launched a powerful offensive, managing to equalize the score and head into the halftime break with absolute parity — 55:55.

The turning point of the encounter was the third quarter. It was in this segment that the Ukrainians seized the initiative, pulled ahead, and created a strategic lead that allowed them to maintain their advantage until the final buzzer. Despite the opponents' final surge, the Ukrainian team demonstrated cool-headedness and character.

### Stars of the match: Mykhailiuk and Kovliar

The main hero of this loud success was the guard for the NBA club "Utah Jazz", Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk. The national team leader, who recently joined the national squad, demonstrated extra-class basketball. He recorded 26 points and 4 game-changing steals. Special attention deserves his play from long distance: Mykhailiuk made 7 three-point shots, which became one of the key factors in the victory.

Guard Oleksandr Kovliar also played a quality match, recording 23 points in his account. It was thanks to their efforts that the Ukrainian team was able to stand up to the opponent's stars. The Lithuanians organized strong resistance in the closing stages, relying on the play of Azubalis Tubelis (28 points) and experienced center Jonas Valančiūnas (16 points and 13 rebounds), but this proved insufficient to turn the situation around.

### Strategic significance of the victory

This sparring match became a crucial stage in preparation for official encounters. For the Ukrainian national team, the upcoming matches are of decisive importance in the qualification for the 2027 World Championship. According to the regulations, to guarantee a place in the next round, Ukrainian basketball players need to win at least one of the two upcoming games.

The victory over Lithuania served as excellent motivation after a regrettable narrow defeat to Angola in Riga (92:93). The team showed that it is capable of adapting and winning in the most difficult conditions, which is a guarantee of success in upcoming official tournaments.