Author: Boris Karebin

BK CENTRE proudly congratulate Tatiana Evko on reaching an important milestone in her basketball journey. For the past five years, our team has worked closely with Tatiana, helping her develop her game and preparing her step by step for the opportunity to continue her career in American college basketball.

Tatiana will begin the upcoming season at New Mexico Junior College. This achievement is the result of years of hard work, dedication, and a shared belief in the goal that has now become a reality.
Special congratulations go to Tatiana’s coach, Eugeny Babaitzev, whose guidance and commitment have played a significant role in her development. The cooperation between the player, her coach, and the BK-CENTRE staff has created a strong foundation for future success.
Throughout these years, Tatiana has repeatedly demonstrated outstanding character, perseverance, and a relentless desire to improve. Those qualities have enabled her to fulfill an important dream and open the door to new opportunities in the United States.
Great prospects now lie ahead for Tatiana Evko. We sincerely wish Tatiana Evko and everyone involved in this successful partnership continued growth, excellent health, and many victories in the years to come. We are confident that the brightest chapters of Tatiana Evko’s basketball career are still ahead.

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.

Several important games involving women’s national teams preparing for the upcoming European Championships took place today.

In Riga, the Latvian and Ukrainian U20 national teams met in a friendly game. Latvia came away with a 64-54 victory. However, as it was the first exhibition game of the summer, neither team displayed its full game identity, making it clear that both sides are still in the early stages of preparation and continue to build chemistry and form.

Even more exciting action unfolded in China, where the U18 international tournament is taking place. China cruised to a convincing victory over Serbia, but the highlight of the day was the matchup between Latvia and Brazil.

Players connected with our program were on both sides. Latvia got off to a fast start and built an early lead, but Brazil fought back midway through the second quarter, turning the contest into a thrilling battle that remained close until the final minutes.

The teams represented two completely different basketball styles. Latvia relied on speed, mobility and floor spacing, stretching the defense and attacking with accurate three-point shooting. Brazil, meanwhile, featured two powerful and athletic forwards who dominated inside the paint, creating major problems on the boards and around the basket. The clash between these contrasting basketball philosophies made for a highly entertaining and physical game.

One of Latvia’s leaders was Santa Ozola, who knocked down two crucial three-pointers in the closing minutes. Neither team was able to gain more than a two-point advantage late in the game, but Latvia held its composure and secured a hard-fought 62-58 victory.

As the European Championships approach, the final phase of preparation is underway, and young players continue to improve, showing increasingly mature and high-quality basketball.

Elina Sinyakova from Dnipro and Maria Rudakova from Kyiv, representing Butler Community College and New Mexico Junior College, have arrived at the training camp of the Ukraine U20 Women’s National Team in Riga, Latvia, and have begun preparations for the FIBA U20 Women’s European Championship.

Both players joined the Ukrainian delegation in Riga as the team opened its training camp ahead of the summer tournament.

Ukraine will play its first exhibition games in Riga from June 21–24 as part of its preparation for the European Championship. The coaching staff will use the games to evaluate the roster and continue building the team before the start of the tournament.

We wish Elina Sinyakova, Maria Rudakova, and the entire Ukraine U20 Women’s National Team a successful preparation period and much success at the European Championship.

The Latvia U18 Women’s National Team, coached by Rudolfs Rozītis, opened its campaign at the international tournament in China with an impressive performance. One of the key players for Latvia was Santa Ozola, who finished the game as the team’s leading scorer.

Ozola showcased her offensive skills and confidence throughout the contest, providing an important contribution to Latvia’s successful start. Her ability to score from different positions and make plays at crucial moments helped her team control the game.

The talented Latvian guard once again demonstrated why she is considered one of the promising young players in the country. With her basketball IQ, scoring ability, and leadership on the court, Ozola continues to play an important role for the Latvia U18 national team.

Latvia has several more games ahead in the tournament, and Santa Ozola is expected to remain one of the team’s leaders as they continue their campaign in China.

BK-CENTRE will continue to follow the performances of Latvia’s young talents on the international stage.