Ukraine continues to live life despite the war. That includes competing in basketball.
More than a week since leaving the Philippines to embark on their buildup for the FIBA World Cup, players and coaches of Gilas Pilipinas are getting their feet wet in international competition.
They have won two of the four games they played against three squads from Estonia, Finland, and Ukraine. Still, they’re just getting started. More work to be done.
From another lens, however, it could also be viewed that they’ve been away from their loved ones for a significant time now.
“I know that the players are starting to miss their families, their kids, their wives. Players are making a lot of sacrifice to be here,” head coach Chot Reyes told One Sports’ Carlo Pamintuan after their 84-74 win in their exhibition rematch against Ukraine’s U20 squad on Sunday in Kaunas, Lithuania. It was deemed to be an improvement from their first outing against the Ukrainians.
Going through rigorous training in another continent is yet one more layer of challenges for the Filipino squad.
“They’re starting to feel the icks and pains of the two-a-days and the travel and cold,” Reyes added.
This is why Coach Chot requested to speak to Ukraine about their own challenges as a basketball team amidst the political conflict in their home country.
Liev Koshevatsky, who scored 9 points for Ukraine in Sunday’s friendly, talked to Gilas to share their experiences.
“For me, very important part of coping with adversity is gratitude, having an appreciation of what you have,” Reyes explained when asked about the request he made to the Ukrainian team.
“For them (Gilas players) to hear it firsthand from someone who’s actually experiencing it, I think it’s very, very important. In the end, with all of the sacrifice that we’re all going through here, we’re still very grateful and very appreciate that we’re able to do what we’re doing no matter how difficult it is. We’re having the privilege of representing our country.”
The five-time PBA Coach of the Year believes this is part of the development that he wants to instill in his wards.
“Broadening your knowledge, widening your perspective, I think it’s part of the learning process,” he said.
“Like what we always say, it’s more than just basketball. Everything we’re doing here is more than just what happens within the four lines.”
(With reports from Carlo Pamintuan)
(Editor's Note: This article has been updated to correct the first name of Ukrainian hooper, Liev Koshevatsky.)