UKR - Jeter helping Ukraine set tone

LJUBLJANA (EuroBasket/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Ukraine set their sites back on the EuroBasket 2013 Quarter-Finals and a spot at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup with a strong win over basketball giants Serbia on Friday. But star guard Eugene 'Pooh' Jeter said the Ukrainians are just setting the tone for the future.

Ukraine went into Friday's contest having lost to Latvia by 34 points in their first game in the second round Group E. But Jeter helped give his team a wake-up call with 20 points and four assists in an 82-75 win over Serbia.

"We just really played basketball. In that first round, we showed that we belonged," he said.

"In the second round, Latvia really punched us and caught us off-balance. But going against a powerhouse like Serbia we knew that we could win it.

"Everybody else doubted us. Everybody else counted us out. But we as a team believed that we could get this W,” explained Jeter, whose team is 2-2 and will advance to the Quarter-Finals with a win on Sunday over Lithuania or a loss by Latvia against Belgium.

The Los Angeles native said this Ukraine group is one to watch down the road, especially for EuroBasket 2015, which will take place in Ukraine.

"We're just setting the tone. You have to think about it, we don't have our captain - (Artur) Drozdov," pointed out Jeter, who received his Ukrainian passport earlier this year after having played in Ukraine in his rookie season as a professional in 2007-08.

Actually this Ukrainian team has a number of big-time players not on board in Slovenia. Center Alex Len was selected fifth overall in the 2013 NBA Draft and is injured. Also out are former NBA big men Kyrylo Fesenko and Oleksiy Pecherov.

"Man, we're missing some great players. But the team we have now, we're showing. And I'm happy to be part of it," said the 1.80m playmaker.

Jeter also values every minute he can pick the brain of NBA veteran coach and TV commentator Mike Fratello, who has led the Ukrainian national team since EuroBasket 2011.

"It's a great opportunity for me to learn from Fratello. He coached Mark Price, Terrell Brandon, Doc Rivers. So, me being with that group and learning from 'The Czar' will definitely bring my game to another level," said the 29-year-old, who will play the next two seasons in China with the Shandong Flaming Bulls.

"He's just bringing a whole new flavor to Ukraine. I'm glad that I'm able to be with him on this journey and help set the tone for the future."

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

FIBA