Source: youtube.com
Press Conference Following the Match Between Niko-Basket and Cherkaski Mavpy
Bohdan Lukyan, guard for Niko-Basket, opened by apologizing to the fans and club management. He admitted the team played very poorly, failing to execute anything they had practiced. Lukyan acknowledged numerous mistakes and promised the team would analyze their performance, correct errors, and prepare better for upcoming games to achieve improved results.
Valentyn Berestnev, head coach of Niko-Basket, began by addressing the fans, expressing regret that the team’s performance did not merit a celebratory greeting for the start of the season. He described the display as a complete disrespect to the supporters and took full responsibility for the defeat. Despite leading by eight points, Berestnev felt he failed to sense a shift in the team’s mindset and did not make the necessary substitutions. He also expressed dissatisfaction with the condition of the foreign players, especially Michael Wright, who arrived out of shape. Berestnev noted that few players currently want to come to Ukraine, forcing the club to accept such circumstances.
He contrasted this with other clubs whose players arrived in better form. Additionally, none of the Ukrainian players performed well in this match. The coach reflected on the pre-season, noting Cherkasy’s poor form and losses to Zaporizhzhia, which led many to expect an easy win for Niko-Basket. Berestnev declined to analyze further but apologized again to the fans, admitting deep shame over the team’s performance. He sarcastically questioned what positive moments there were, citing examples such as Lukyan throwing the ball across the court to avoid an 18-point loss turning into 21, or Safonov stepping aside to concede a basket due to team fouls, while himself shooting only 50%.
Berestnev explained the defensive fouling strategy, highlighting that fouling was necessary since the opposing team’s free-throw accuracy was only 56%, compared to the usual 80-85%. He noted that the team conceded 26 points in the third quarter and 25 in the fourth, emphasizing that the defense lacked the will to win. He thanked the fans for their support despite the inevitable loss and for staying to shake hands and show appreciation, though he felt the team did not deserve it.
Kyrylo Marchenko, guard for Cherkaski Mavpy, greeted fans, players, coaches, and clubs on the season’s start. He expressed pleasure in beginning the season with a victory. Marchenko admitted the team lost the rebounding battle completely but credited their determination for not giving up when trailing, which ultimately led to their win. He mentioned the coach’s encouragement to stay focused and avoid complacency, especially after the tense third quarter. Marchenko shared personal anxiety about that period, recalling difficult moments in his career related to third-quarter nerves. He praised the team’s fight and resilience, noting the third quarter as decisive, quoting the saying that the team winning the third quarter wins the match.
Dmytro Nahornyi, head coach of Cherkaski Mavpy, began by thanking Niko-Basket for the game and congratulating his club’s management and fans on their first win of the season. He highlighted improvements in the team’s internal atmosphere, crediting Yevhen Korovyakov for taking over leadership of the locker room climate from Andriy Agafonov, who managed it last year. Korovyakov, alongside captain Kyrylo Marchenko, is fostering a positive environment. Nahornyi mentioned the return of Bohdan Tolmachov, who couldn’t rejoin last season but has now come back and is expected to progress further.
He also praised Mykola Varyshchak, whom he observed playing for DiDiBao, commending his defensive aggression and hoping he will build a solid professional career in Ukraine’s first division.
Regarding the match, Nahornyi admitted the team was out-rebounded on their own basket, a point he had emphasized during pre-season friendlies. He stressed the need for greater toughness and desire to secure rebounds, noting instances where opponents easily grabbed the ball and scored from beyond the arc. While the defense was active, failure to rebound led to easy three-pointers for the opposition. Despite challenges, the players showed character and fought hard, which helped them turn the game around.
Nahornyi acknowledged ongoing issues inside the paint and the post, noting they are searching for a center. He also stressed the need to improve defensive rotations during mismatches under the basket. Offensively, he was pleased with two statistics: 21 assists and only 5 turnovers, marking one of the lowest turnover counts in the past year and a half. However, he emphasized the need for more organized and clever offensive play, improving ball reception quality, as the team was often broken down by poor ball handling and limited to basic pick-and-roll plays. He promised continued work on these areas.
Nahornyi concluded by expressing satisfaction with the first win but reminded that it is now history. The focus shifts to preparing for upcoming games and putting in greater effort during training to improve. He stated the season’s best outcome would be for every player to progress individually and as a team. The goal is to compete at maximum effort in every match, showcasing the ability to develop and play with young talent. Addressing speculation that artificial intelligence predicted Niko-Basket and Cherkaski Mavpy would finish last in the championship, Nahornyi disagreed. He believes the teams will be more competitive this season. Although lacking a center currently might have influenced AI’s conclusion, the arrival of a center will change the dynamics, making defense and offense easier to build.
