We spoke with Kalev/Kramo, the first player of the Ukraine national team and one of the best players in the Latvian-Estonian league, the day after his team beat Den Bosch in the FIBA ​​European Cup match.

– First of all, congratulations on your victory over Den Bosch. Is this an important victory for your club?

– Yes. This win was important to stay in the play-offs. We didn’t have much choice here – we had to win.

– You scored 16 points and had 8 assists. The famous portal Eurobasket.com chose you as the man of the match…
– Actually? I haven’t seen it yet (laughs).

– You spent 31 minutes on the court. How did you find this speed?

Before that, we had six games in eleven days. We were prepared for such loads. If the coach gives 30 minutes to play, why not.

BK Kalev/Kramo. Alexander Kovlyar

– What can you say about your next opponent in the European Cup, Bamberg?

– This is a pretty strong German team. They played in the Euroleague a few years ago. It will be interesting for me as a young player to play with such a top team.

– What is your expectation from this duel?

– I think we can beat this opponent. It will be two very interesting matches. Personally, I want to play my best game. I think I need to improve my result in every match.

What exactly will you improve? Tell us about your strengths.

– First of all, I see defense as my strong point. I play as a point guard and I have to play well in defense, I have to build my team’s offense, so I have to use all my teammates. I’ve worked hard on the shot this year. First of all, 3-pointers. It’s easier to play this way: if I’m more aggressive, if I improve my shot, as a result I have more options to use my partners. Also my “plus” speed. In the playmaker position, the player must be fast, technical. I think these aspects are the most important.

– What about interventions?

– Intersections – yes. Depends on defense. If you defend well, the attacking player himself will give you the ball. Even when I started playing basketball, the kids’ coaches forced me to play aggressively on defense. And most importantly, I like to intrude and I’m good at it. It’s not very difficult.

– Since we started talking about the coaches, your coach in the Ukraine U-20 team Khimik is Vitaliy Stepanovsky. He raised you, is it possible to say that?

We started working together when I was 18. He was the one who got me into Khimik’s first team and gave me playing time right away. I started playing 20 minutes from the Superleague, the first year of adult basketball. It was a coaching decision, for which I am grateful to Vitaly Vasilyevich. And this year we also worked together in Ukraine’s youth team. The result was not very satisfactory. I did not play well. We communicate very well with Vitaly Vasilyevich. I’m following your new team in Romania. You could say you raised me.

UK Chemist. Alexander Kovlyar as a Chemist

– But he gave not only minutes, but also shots. Did it help your mental development? In character?

Yes, it helped me a lot. Because at the age of 18 it is very difficult to take responsibility for the result of the team. At the level of the Superleague teams. But the coach challenged me, constantly telling me to trust my actions. As a result, I see that I am more successful on the field when I am two years older this season. And now I am much more confident in myself.

– So making you one of the team leaders was a coaching attempt?

– Then it is the coach who gave this initiative at the age of 18. And when the mental preparation comes in at a more mature age, then yes, it is the player who will take the ball and decide the divisions. But first, you need the coach’s confidence to make those decisive hits.

– Why did you fail to show your level as part of the Ukraine U-20 national team in the summer?

– I think the emotional state of the team played a role because of the war. We had a great training camp, but abroad. And the time was a little tight: usually it takes about a month to prepare for such tournaments, here was half the time. But it worked as is.

There’s no point in talking about it now. That’s what happens in professional sports: you can go up, and there will be falls. You just have to get over it, then get stronger.

– Ainars Bagatskis has included you in the list of players coming to the national team for the World Cup qualifiers. Were you expecting the Bagatskis to call you?

– Yes. It’s my first time joining the national team. I was called before, but I couldn’t join the team because I injured my ankle. We have two very important matches: against the Netherlands and against Italy. And we have a chance to reach the World Cup. It will be an interesting experience for me.

– Moreover, you play a rather rare position for Ukraine – a playmaker position.

– Yes, this is a rare position, on the one hand, there is a lot of criticism, on the other hand, playing the “first point” in the national team is a huge responsibility. But I think I have the capacity to deal with it. And we’ll see how it turns out soon.

– Why did you decide to play a quarterback?

– It has been going on since childhood: the youngest plays quarterback in basketball. But I love controlling the game, holding the ball, using my teammates with passes. I enjoyed it. I can play in second position but without the ball it requires more movement. And I like to control the progress of the match.

– How did the Estonian option come about?

– When a full-scale war began, I received an offer from the Estonian club Tartu. He completed the last two months of the regular season in Estonia. He helped the team win championship silver. And in the summer, when I was in training camp for the Ukrainian youth team, a manager called me and said that the coach of Pärnu, with whom I played in the final last year (until then) wanted to see me in his team. new team – Kalev.

Did you have other career options?

– When the Estonian basketball giant immediately offered a contract, I said, “Yes, I’m signing”. This was unexpected. Kalev now has a smaller budget. They played in the VTB League last year, but refused to participate. If then the team is relying on the Americans, this year it is relying on young and experienced Estonian basketball players. As a result, we are in the playoffs of the FIBA ​​Europe Cup. Basketball is played with players, not money.

– How do you feel abroad?

“Life changed in an instant. I’ve always dreamed of playing abroad. Because I want to play in a better club, in a stronger league. What is expected of me when I become a legionnaire is not expected from a player in Ukraine. I was in a comfortable zone in Ukraine. With legionnaires on staff in Khimik, they did the work and the locals helped them. And now – as a legionnaire, I have to do the main work. And it gives me great pleasure.

– What goals do you set for yourself in Kalev?

– Go to the final of the European Cup. After that it will be the Latvian-Estonian League where we have to stay in the last four and win the Estonian title. I got a silver medal last year. I want to win gold this year.

BK Kalev/Kramo. Alexander Kovlyar (No. 50)

– Compare the championships of Ukraine and Estonia?

– There are a lot of young players in the Latvian-Estonian league. Maybe there are a few legionnaires. There are almost no Lithuanians, but quite a lot of Ukrainians. Their club focuses on the development of local basketball players. As in Khimik, great emphasis is placed on youth development.

– Do you have confidence? On behalf of the management or on behalf of the coach?

– Yes, I feel it. I played 30 minutes yesterday and I am grateful for that. I’m only twenty years old, but I can play and show my confidence. There is also the opportunity to play in the European Cup, I hope Estonia wins the championship and I try my luck in the Champions League next year. This is the next level of international competition.

– You often get off the bench. Are you comfortable?

“It was like that at the beginning of the season. But then my American colleague got a shoulder injury and dropped out for a while. As a result, I can play in the top five. And after his return, we play two quarterbacks together. This gives our team a variety of speed, defense and attack. The layout has changed a bit, but this gives the result.

– During one of the matches, Kalev missed several opponent attacks in a row. You begin to calm your partners by addressing them with a characteristic gesture, as if: “Exhale. Return to consciousness.” Are you taking on the role of a leader?

– Even though I am only 20 years old, I try to be the voice on the field. As a quarterback, I have to do this. My players also listen to me. Even those who are 35 years old. Because it’s up to me whether they get the ball or not (laughs). But sometimes I need reassurance. And that’s what the coach does.

How do you motivate yourself for each match?

– I have personal motivation after the U-20 European Championship. Whatever happens in life will be for the best. I’m sure of that. And since then, I’ve been trying to be the best version of myself in every game.

Vyacheslav Shevchenko