KIEV (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Ukraine are set to tackle the Second Round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers with their big-name stars in Oleksii Len and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk on board.

Having answered coach Yevhen Murzin's call to action, both players are on the 18-man squad for the September window games against Spain and Montenegro in Group I.

The contests in Kiev and Niksic, respectively, will be particularly special for Len, who is set to make his debut for the senior side, with the 25-year-old center last representing Ukraine at the FIBA U18 European Championship 2010.

"The Ukrainian Basketball Federation, and Mr. President Mykhaylo Brodskyy personally, did a great job of involving Oleksii Len in the national team. This work has been ongoing for the past four years and we have finally have the result," a delighted coach Murzin reacted to the news of the high-caliber reinforcements.

 It has been a while since Mykhailiuk suited up for Ukraine as well, returning to the national team after skipping the last three summers, having made his debut with the seniors at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2014 in Spain as an up-and-coming teenager.

"It has always been a dream of mine to play for the national team of Ukraine. I am a patriot," noted the sharp-shooting 21-year-old forward, who was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers in this year's NBA Draft.

"I am looking forward to playing against Spain and I'm going to help the national team in the nearest upcoming games. I know our team cannot afford to make mistakes, so even against such a formidable opponent, we will be looking for a win." 

Aiming to make their second consecutive FIBA Basketball World Cup, Ukraine and coach Murzin expects the big-name additions to bring immediate impact and boost the side's China 2019 campaign.

"I'm absolutely sure that both guys will help our team a lot," Murzin looked ahead to the challenging September fixture list.

"I can't really say that Len and Mykhailiuk are newcomers. They are players of the highest level. Mykhailiuk made his senior debut years ago and played for the youth teams across all age categories; Len hasn't played [internationally] for a long time and we are all waiting for his comeback and start with the main team, but he has five years of NBA experience." 

Ukraine have a long way to go and some catching up to do in the Second Round after carrying over a 3-3 record from the First Round of the Qualifiers, which has them ranked fourth in Group I before action gets underway.

Over the course of the next three international windows, Ukraine are set to tussle for the three available tickets to China 2019 with their Second Round rivals Slovenia, Spain, Montenegro, Latvia and Turkey.

FIBA