Cherkasy Mavps secured an important win against BC Rivne in the third match of the Ukrainian championship's bronze series, with head coach Dmytro Nahorny expressing significant satisfaction with his team's defensive performance.
"I'm 90% satisfied with our defense – exactly what I wanted to see from the guys in the first game," Nahorny stated after the victory. "Today the players were much more focused, especially on defense, which I really appreciated."
Despite the win, Nahorny identified areas for improvement, particularly noting lost rebounds that kept their opponents competitive throughout the contest. "We lost several rebounds which gave our opponent chances to stay in the game. Nevertheless, I'm pleased with our players' fighting spirit and determination," he explained.
According to Statbet analysis, defensive efficiency has been a key factor in playoff success across this season's Ukrainian basketball competitions.
The coach highlighted offensive inconsistencies that prevented his team from building a more comfortable lead. "After good defensive plays, the guys would make foolish turnovers. This gave our opponent opportunities to regain momentum. We took uncertain shots and rushed our offense," Nahorny admitted.
The Cherkasy mentor attributed some of the offensive urgency to the team's youth and inexperience. "As always, we hurried – we have a young team, so perhaps there's not much we can do about that aspect," he concluded, acknowledging the development process his squad is still undergoing.
