Ukraine has qualified for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup thanks to a 66-58 victory over Italy in the semifinals of the EuroBasket 2013 classification bracket. This is the first time Ukraine has ever qualified for the FIBA World Cup, formerly known as the World Championships.
2013 EuroBasket results: Ukraine qualifies for 1st World Cup with win over Italy
Pooh Jeter’s 20 points and a stifling defensive effort lifted Ukraine over Italy in a consolation game, allowing Ukraine to qualify for its first-ever FIBA World Cup.
Christof Koepsel
Pooh Jeter led the way for Mike Fratello’s squad, scoring 20 points on 7-of-16 shooting. Jeter was the only player on Ukraine to reach double figures in scoring.
Ukraine won despite shooting just 39.3 percent from the field, riding a strong defensive effort along with Jeter’s scoring to victory. Ukraine held Italy to a woeful 31.8 percent shooting mark.
Ukraine started slow, scoring just 13 points in the first quarter and falling behind by four. But their offense found its groove in the second quarter, and their defense took care of the rest in the second half. Italy managed just 24 second-half points.
Pietro Aradori led Italy with 15 points and nine rebounds, while Luigi Datome had 11 points. Marco Belinelli suffered through a nightmarish game, making just two of his 19 shot attempts.
Ukraine will play Slovenia on Thursday in the fifth-place game. Italy will take on Serbia in the seventh-place game with a World Cup spot on the line.
More from SB Nation NBA:
See More:
