Ainars Bagatskis, head coach of the Ukraine men’s national basketball team, spoke to the FBU press service about the squad selection for the upcoming second stage World Cup 2027 qualifiers against Greece and Montenegro.
When asked about the team roster and changes since the July matches, Bagatskis confirmed that Maksym Shulha will be part of the squad for this window. From the very first conversation with his agent, there were no doubts. Shulha expressed his readiness to join the national team camp and his strong desire to play. Bagatskis described him as a responsible, serious player of good quality and wished him health and plenty of playing time in the coming season, a wish extended to all players.
Returning from injury is Novytskyi, who has not played since December. He is eager to represent the national team, a proven player and a great person, so there are no questions about his inclusion either.
Bagatskis also recently spoke with Oleksii Len. Despite his strong desire to play, Len suffered an injury in May and has yet to fully recover. He is training and regaining fitness but not yet at full contact. He remains in the squad, but the final decision will be made closer to the start of the camp. The priority is for him to be fully fit and perform at his best, which is only possible when healthy. Len is very motivated to contribute, and the coaching staff will continue monitoring his progress.
Maksym Hryshchuk impressed at the recent Under-20 European Championship. The coaching staff is eager to see how he performs alongside the country’s top players, keeping him firmly on their radar.
The last training camp featured 15 players. Although short, it was an intense period. Currently, the team does not require more than 15 players. Based on the available squad, the coaching staff will prepare tactics for the upcoming matches. There are new tactical ideas, especially for the game against Greece, with fresh emphases while building on the style of basketball previously played.
Regarding players unavailable for this window, Bagatskis noted that Oleksandr Lypovyi, despite his strong wish to play and readiness for November, will miss these matches due to family reasons, as he did in July.
Sanon is still recovering from an injury sustained at the end of the season and continues rehabilitation. Blyzniuk also wants to play but remains in recovery following surgery and has not yet regained full fitness.
The team’s situation is generally good, but there is a challenge with many players currently unattached to clubs. Bagatskis recognizes that this can lead to extra emotional strain during training and matches, which must be managed carefully.
Turning to the upcoming friendly matches against the University of Arizona team and the Latvian national team, Bagatskis explained that when these games were scheduled, there was no shortage of options. However, after successful matches, new interesting offers emerged, but agreements were already in place to play the planned fixtures. The game against Arizona promises to be engaging, featuring an aggressive, motivated, and young team. Bagatskis expects a physical style of basketball, which suits their preparation. While the Greeks are not particularly fast, they favor physical play as well.
As for Latvia, Bagatskis declined to comment extensively but noted that the team is working to regain its previous standing and aims to qualify for the World Cup. This match will be a solid test for both sides, taking place in a packed arena in Riga, an environment Bagatskis knows well.
Asked if the game against Latvia holds special significance for him, Bagatskis said it is just another match. He is calm now but expects strong emotions afterward, as this will be his first time coaching against the Latvian national team, which he formerly led.
On the opponents’ lineups for official matches, there is no concrete information yet. The staff relies on publicly available data. It is believed that Greece will try to keep the situation regarding Giannis Antetokounmpo under wraps until the last moment. His presence or absence makes a huge difference, as he is a player who can elevate any team worldwide. However, Greece also has many experienced players around him. After a disappointing previous window, the Greeks will do everything possible to secure victories.
Montenegro features naturalized player Yogi Ferrell, who played alongside Kovlyar at Budućnost last season. While they lack big stars, Montenegro is a balanced team with players familiar with each other and long-time club teammates. Each player can make an impact, and their strength lies in teamwork.
Looking ahead to next season, Bagatskis will be working with Benfica. When asked how this might benefit Ukraine given that Portugal is also in their qualifying group, he said there isn’t much new there. Portuguese basketball is on the rise, with Nemias Queta conducting a large summer camp for kids. Basketball in Europe is growing at all levels with significant investment, and Portugal is no exception. A generational shift is expected soon, as most key Portuguese players are over 30. Bagatskis is looking forward to working there, and this experience may prove useful since Ukraine will have only three days to prepare for the match against Portugal in November.
