Spain’s ‘final’ against Ukraine will have many more positive reasons related to basketball than that duel in Córdoba several months ago. The rival of ‘La Familia’ played a match… Which finds few explanations as to why it was played when one of the countries had just entered a war provoked by the Russian Kremlin. Now, and with the conflict still going on and with complaints from one side and the other, the players in yellow have more reason to believe. Although they should play it in Riga, the immediate impact of his NBA Svi Mykhailiuk makes a qualitative leap and threatens Spain.
The national coach Sergio Scariolo commented on this after the defeat at Tiblisi Arena. “Like Georgia and her ‘Big Three’ [Shermadini, Shengelia y McFadden], Ukraine has a ‘top player’ for FIBA basketball. Mykhailiuk has settled in the NBA and has the ability to decide games”, said the transalpine. Something that in the current call of the Selection it is more difficult to find despite that its competitive character does not enter into discussion.
‘Svi’ is a real threat. He has played two games and averages 20 points per game. In his last one, against Macedonia, he scored 24 points -with six triples-. From the escort position he is a nuisance from his 2.02 meters and also contributes in defense. A ‘3&D’ with a starring role in Ukraine. Look for Xabi López-Arostegui not to have a good afternoon, although the one from Valencia Basket already showed against Georgia that he is also capable of changing games from the two baskets.
A dangerous precedent
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bn5rFfCOP6Q
To make matters worse, Mykhailiuk already knows what it means to do a lot of damage to the Spain of Windows. It happened in September 2018 in kyiv and ‘Svi’ scored 22 points leading to the first defeat of Sergio Scariolo’s pupils in the qualifying phase that ended up giving them the World Cup in China. Afterwards, the player will continue to grow after training in Kansas, going through Lakers, Pistons, Oklahoma and Raptors, a team he has been a part of since August 2021.
Spain, who must win if they want to get the classification back on track, will have a tough nut to crack. In exile due to an unjust war, but a selection that punishes even if it plays in Riga. Georgia knows it in a good way in the first game of the FIBA Windows of the month of July.