Ainars Bagatskis has begun intensive preparation with the Ukrainian men's basketball team in Riga ahead of their crucial third pre-qualification match for the 2027 World Cup. The squad is training at the Olympic Center in Latvia where they will face "Switzerland" on August 16 at 17:00 Kyiv time.
"Every point matters in these qualification games, especially after such a close previous match," a team representative might note, considering the stakes of the upcoming contest.
The previous encounter with the Swiss proved heartbreaking for the Ukrainian side, who narrowly lost 66:64 on Switzerland's home court. This upcoming game represents a chance for the blue and yellows to even the score and improve their position in the qualification group.
Interestingly, the Olympic Center's parquet in Riga will serve as the neutral venue for this important clash. The facilities there should provide familiar conditions for Bagatskis, who hails from neighboring Latvia.
Slovakia completes the three-team qualification group alongside Ukraine and Switzerland, making every game critical in the race for World Cup qualification spots. Each point could prove decisive in determining which team advances.
Can Bagatskis make the necessary tactical adjustments to reverse the two-point deficit from their previous matchup? The answer comes this Wednesday when the ball goes up in Riga.
