The Ukrainian national basketball team was defeated by Italy in the qualifying match for the 2023 World Cup.

Ainars Bagatskis' wards lost in a nominally home match in Riga with a score of 89:97.

In the last ten minutes, the Ukrainians managed to level the score, but then a series of fouls helped the Italians to break away, which they failed to win back..

The NBA basketball player Svyatoslav Mikhailyuk became the most productive among Ukrainians following the match, scoring 11 points..

Ukraine - Italy - 89:97 (19:19, 26:15, 22:38, 22:25).

Ukraine: Bliznyuk 9+6 rebounds, Gerun 10+7 rebounds, Lukashov 10+7 rebounds+6 assists, Laziness 8, Mykhailyuk 11 – start; Pustovoy 10, Sanon 8+5 assists, Tkachenko 8, Bobrov 7, Sidorov 8, Voinalovich 0.

Already on August 27, Ukraine will play the next match away against Iceland. In group L, the Ukrainians are fifth, and the top three teams will go to the World Cup.

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Earlier, the Ukrainian basketball player spoke harshly about the bombing of Kharkiv by Russian invaders.