UKR - National team to start World Cup preparations in mid-July

KIEV (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - One of the surprise packages at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup will be Ukraine.

Having contributed players to the old Soviet Union sides that enjoyed a lot of success in international competition, this is the first time Ukraine's national team is playing in a major tournament.

The country reached the 24-team event by finishing sixth at last year's EuroBasket in Slovenia.

The team coached by Mike Fratello is to launch its preparations on 15 July in Yuzhny, Ukraine, a town that rests beside the Black Sea.

The Ukrainians will then host a tournament that also includes Canada, Georgia and fellow World Cup side, Slovenia.

At the beginning of August, Ukraine will continue training and also travel to Klaipeda, Lithuania, where the team expects to face the host nation and other opponents in friendly games.

From 14 to 18 August, Fratello's squad will be in France to take part in a tournament and then move to Spain for more games.

On 22 August, Ukraine's team will return home to Kiev before traveling on 26 August back to Spain, where they will play in Bilbao against Group C opponents USA, Finland, Turkey, New Zealand and the Dominican Republic.

Ukraine arrived at the EuroBasket last year as big underdogs and yet put forth a spirited performance that saw them qualify for Spain 2014.

The aim this summer will be to build on their terrific 2013 in Slovenia.

FIBA