EuroBasket - Ukraine back on track

LJUBLJANA (EuroBasket/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - There's no such thing as a sure-bet in international hoops this summer as teams try to qualify for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Time and time again, national sides have sprung upsets.

It's happened in Asia, Africa, the Americas and on Friday, another major surprise happened in Ljubljana, Slovenia, at EuroBasket 2013.

Just 48 hours after being thrashed 85-51 by Latvia, Ukraine bounced back in Group E with an 82-75 triumph over Serbia.

Maxym Korniyenko and Pooh Jeter led a spirited Ukrainian effort with 21 and 20 points, respectively.

"The thing that made me the proudest is that we came after that game we played against Latvia and we had energy," Ukraine coach Mike Fratello said, "we had purpose on the floor. Against Latvia, I don't know what we were doing and Latvia just pounded us into submission.

"But tonight, the players stepped back up after the embarrassment of that performance."

Ukraine led by as many as 11 points and seized control in the third quarter when they outscored Serbia, 22-14.

Dusan Ivkovic's team, which entered the day top of the pool with three wins after carrying two victories over from Group B, twice cut the deficit to seven points in the last three minutes.

Jeter answered each time.

He struck with a three-pointer with 2:38 remaining to stretch the advantage to 75-67.

After Bogdan Bogdanovic replied immediately with a three-ball, Jeter struck again inside the arc to take the advantage back to 77-70.

Bogdanovic then added to a nightmare night for Serbia at the free-throw line, missing two, and Ukraine held on.

Ivkovic's side was just 12 of 24 at the stripe on the night.

Ukraine will now go into their last Group E game against Lithuania with their confidence soaring.

"Now, everybody has to go back to work again," Fratello said.

In the day's first game, Lithuania dominated Belgium inside en route to an 86-67 victory.

Donatas Motiejunas had 13 points for Lithuania, including two when he dribbled the ball the length of the floor in the first half and dunked.

Jonas Valanciunas had 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Lithuania, after beating France 76-62 in their Group E opener, improved to 3-1 and Belgium fell to 0-4.

"We started this game from defense," Lithuania coach Jonas Kazlauskas said.

"At the beginning we missed a few open shotes but we know anyway that if we played defense the scoring would come, and that's how it happened."

France bounced back from their 14-point defeat to Lithuania by beating Latvia, 102-91.

Les Bleus punished Latvia for their weak interior defending in the first quarter by opening a 31-15 advantage with Alexis Ajinca pouring in eight of his game-high 25 points.

The French led by as many as 22 but Dairis Bertans helped keep Latvia's slim hopes alive with a dazzling display on both ends of the floor.

The point guard hit four of six shots from the arc on his way to a game-high 28 points.

Latvia closed the gap to seven late in the contest and had the ball but Rolands Freimanis missed from three-point range and France rebounded to kill the comeback.

Lithuania, France and Serbia now have 3-1 records while Ukraine are fourth at 2-2.

If Latvia, who are 1-3, win against Belgium on Sunday and Ukraine fall to Lithuania, the Latvians will claim fourth and the Ukrainians will end up in fifth and not advance.

On Saturday, Group F action resumes as Croatia facing Italy, Spain take on Finland and Slovenia go up against Greece.

Six places for the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain are up for grabs in Ljubljana.

For full and in-depth coverage of EuroBasket 2013, go to the official website http://www.eurobasket2013.org.

FIBA