The second friendly game between the Latvian and Ukrainian Women’s U20 National Teams took place in Riga as both teams continue their preparations for the upcoming FIBA U20 European Championship, which will be held in Sweden.
The game was of special interest as five players represented by BK-CENTRE were on the rosters of the two teams, providing another valuable opportunity to evaluate their readiness ahead of the summer tournament.
Latvia controlled the first half, using aggressive defense and fast-break opportunities to build a comfortable lead. The home team went into halftime ahead 43-30, and it appeared that Latvia was on its way to a relatively easy victory.
However, Ukraine showed great character after the break. Early in the third quarter, the Ukrainians went on a strong run and cut the deficit by ten points. From that moment on, the game remained highly competitive, with both teams battling evenly throughout the second half.
In the closing minutes, Latvia managed to hold on and secure an 82-77 victory.
Zana Straudovska had another solid performance and continues to show why she is considered one of Latvia’s key players. Following the European Championship, she will continue her basketball career at an American college.
Elina Sinyukova, who plays for Butler Community College in Kansas, also delivered a strong performance. She had been dealing with a minor cold before the game and is still working her way back to full strength. Nevertheless, Elina is gradually regaining her form, and there is every reason to believe that she will make a significant impact for her team at the European Championship.
With the tournament approaching, both Latvia and Ukraine demonstrated that they are capable of competing at a high level and fighting for strong results in Sweden.