By Rigas Dardalis/ dardalis@eurohoops.net
Ukraine surprised everyone by getting into the quarterfinals of Eurobasket 2013 and despite losing the chance to get to the medal round, the spirit is high in the country. After all Ukraine will be hosting Eurobasket 2013 and they can achieve their big goal there.
Eurohoops have the chance to talk with federation president and former player Sasha Volkov, the architect behind the rise of Ukrainian basketball, and as he said, during the last FIBA Europe U16 championship, his country will be ready: “I am sure we are going to be ready, as you seen we have a very high level of organization. Everybody says it and we are very happy because all our European guests are appreciating it. The only question we have to address in the next two years is to build the arenas that we need and I am sure it will be done and we will be ready to host Eurobasket 2015, which I hope it will be considered the best ever”.
The full gyms during the tournament will also play a big part in this success and Volkov is sure that his compatriots will be present: “You have seen how they have filled the arenas in the games of the Under 16 tournament. I been in many under 16 tournaments all over Europe and the attendance was much lower than in Ukraine. I am absolutely positive that our arenas will be full”