UKR - Conditioning first and foremost

KIEV (EuroBasket/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Veteran coach Mike Fratello is telling everyone in the Ukraine squad that if they want to achieve something at the EuroBasket, one thing is non-negotiable.

The players must, Fratello says, get into the best possible physical shape during their preparations if they want to have the opportunity of making an impact in Slovenia.

"At the training camp, it's very important that players reach their maximum level of condition," said the American play-caller.

"In that way, we will be able to play basketball at a decent level all over the court - on defense and on offense.

"Then we can show at 100% everything that we're capable of."

After long seasons with their clubs, players took some time away to recharge the batteries and have now linked up with Fratello.

"Some of the players in the team came to camp in good shape, some did not," he said.

"Some are not at the level as we would like them to be.

"But it is important that we take the time to get the players to the right level.

"The first step to being a good player and a good team - it's a great physical shape."

Ukraine are to play in Group A against France, Germany, Great Britain, Belgium and Israel at the EuroBasket.

The clock is ticking, with the 24-team tournament tipping off on 4 September.

Ukraine are not at full strength in terms of playing personnel at the start of the training camp.

Center Serhiy Lishchuk won't be able to play this summer while he recovers from injuries that he aggravated last season.

Others have to fulfil commitments but will eventually show up.

"Not all players have arrived at the camp," Fratello said.

"Some of them are still in summer camps in the NBA. Hopefully within four to five days, all players will be in attendance."

Some players like Artur Drozdov are hurt but rehabilitating and will eventually be with the team.

Ukraine preliminary squad for EuroBasket: Igor Zaytsev, Oleksandr Kolchenko, Maksim Korniyenko, Oleksandr Lypovyy, Oleksandr Mishula, Kiryl Natyazhko, Leonid Stefanishin, Artem Pustovyi, Maksim Pustozvonov, Stanislav Tymofeyenko, Oleksii Shchepkin, Kyrylo Fesenko, Denis Ikovlev, Volodymyr Koniev, Artur Drozdov, Sergii Gladyr, Viacheslav Kravtsov, Pavlo Burenko, Denys Lukashov, Vyacheslav Bobrov, Artem Slipenchuk, Dmytro Gliebov and Dmytro Zabirchenko.

FIBA