Maxim Klychko and his Ukrainian teammates suffered a disappointing 55:65 defeat against Belgium in their second European Championship Division A match. The contest, held at the University of Crete Hall in Greece, saw Ukraine unable to maintain their early advantage despite strong efforts under the basket.
"The team showed good intensity in the paint during the opening quarter, but we couldn't maintain that level throughout the game," – a frustrated Ukrainian coach might have noted after the match.
The game began with tight defensive play from both sides, with the first successful shot coming from Belgium only in the second minute. Ukraine responded with a fast break, and the early exchanges featured equal play with defensive focus and multiple errors from both teams.
Ukraine claimed the first quarter through confident play in the paint and active rebounding. Klychko and Luka Lokhmanchuk fought aggressively under the basket, while Yegor Sushkin's three-pointer helped maintain their advantage. Belgium struggled with their shooting accuracy and faced pressure from Ukraine's defense.
The second quarter saw Belgium improve their performance, particularly through Alexander Raedschelders and Mohammed Amrani, who scored in fast breaks. Ukraine had several strong stretches, especially toward the end when Upyr and Klychko converted important points after steals. Still, Belgium won the quarter, cutting Ukraine's lead to just one point (31:30).
Interestingly, the "yellow-blues" managed to increase their advantage to four points (35:30) right after halftime thanks to effective plays from Sushkin and Kolavole. However, Belgium quickly seized the initiative with accurate shooting and aggressive play under the rim. Raedschelders stood out with a three-pointer and effective drives to the basket.
Ukraine tried to maintain their lead through quick bursts and points after steals but suffered from turnovers and poor shooting efficiency. Sometimes their defense lost focus, allowing Belgium to score easy points in fast breaks. Both teams exchanged missed shots and turnovers toward the end of the third quarter, finishing at 45:45.
The final quarter was a tense battle where Belgium showed more confidence and ultimately celebrated victory.
Do you remember that Ukraine narrowly lost to Germany in the first round too? The third match is scheduled for Monday, July 14, with Italy as the opponent. Ukraine returned to the elite division after finishing second in last year's Division B championship. Can they secure their first win against the Italians?
