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Alexander KOVLYAR: “Every match I try to be the best version of myself”

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3 years ago

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Alexander KOVLYAR: “Every match I try to be the best version of myself”

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

Source: Sport UA

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Basketball player Elatontsev, who left Lokomotiv-Kuban, signed a contract with the NCAA team

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December 29, 2025

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Basketball player Elatontsev, who left Lokomotiv-Kuban, signed a contract with the NCAA team

The Oklahoma Sooners University of Oklahoma team, which plays in the North American student league NCAA, announced on its official website that it has signed a contract with Russian basketball player Kirill Elatontsev, who has a valid agreement with the Krasnodar club Lokomotiv-Kuban.

In November, Lokomotiv-Kuban announced that Elatontsev was likely faking signs of illness in order to avoid taking part in matches. Then the center voluntarily left the club and flew to the USA. In December, Match TV reported that Lokomotiv applied to the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) in order to prohibit Elatontsev from moving within competitions under the auspices of the organization.

“First of all, we are glad that Kirill is here, because the path to this moment has been long. He’s older and has played against some really tough opponents, which will also help us in league games. In addition, he has an excellent shot from under the hoop. “We’re excited about his arrival and we’re working to get him acclimated to our program, our system, so he can help us as quickly as possible,” Oklahoma head coach Porter Moser said.

The release notes that Elatontsev can play for the team.

Elatontsev is 23 years old and made his debut for the main team of Lokomotiv-Kuban in 2021. The center was recognized as the best young player in the VTB United League for two seasons in a row.

Watch live broadcasts of United League matches on the Match group channels, as well as on the websites matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru.

Source: Sportbox

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NBA: Barnes’ powerful triple-double, Detroit defeat and Lakers victory

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6 hours ago

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December 29, 2025

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NBA: Barnes’ powerful triple-double, Detroit defeat and Lakers victory

Six games were played in the NBA regular season on the night of December 28-29.

Toronto hosted Golden State and earned a hard-fought overtime victory.

The Raptors had a better first quarter, during which they broke away from their opponent by 10 points (33:23), but the Warriors leveled this difference quite quickly and by the end of the second quarter they were already +6 – 56:50. However, they were unable to maintain their advantage, at least until the big break when the home team took the lead at 65:64.

In the third quarter, Golden State took the initiative and took the lead by 12 points (95:83), but at the end of the quarter, Toronto made an 8:0 move, reducing the gap to 4 points (96:100). However, the guest team started the fourth quarter better and stayed two or three shots away from their opponents. This continued until the middle of the quarter, and then Toronto slowly began to close the gap, tying the score at 120:120 47 seconds before the siren, thanks to Quickley’s three-pointer. Podzemski then hit a two-pointer to put the Warriors back in front, but Barnes responded with a two-pointer with 24 seconds left in the quarter, sending the game into overtime. The home team started the match with a score of 10:0 and then calmly maintained its advantage with a score of 141:127 and scored 5 points in 5 minutes.

Barnes recorded a triple-double with 23 points, 25 rebounds and 10 assists for Toronto. The most productive player of the match was Curry, but the 39 points he scored did not help the guest team win.

The Clippers hosted Detroit and won a sensational victory.

The home team was ahead by 19 points (33:14) in the first quarter, and then remained ahead throughout the entire match, reaching its maximum advantage of 26 points (95:69) at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Before the end of the game, the opponent regained half of this handicap, but this did not help the Pistons fully return to the game. As a result, the Clippers earned a landslide victory with a score of 112:99.

The most productive player of the match was Leonard, who achieved a double-double by scoring 55 points and collecting 11 rebounds, which was almost half of the Clippers’ entire set.

The Lakers defeated Sacramento after a series of underachievement.

Özernye, who took the initiative from the beginning of the game, gradually increased his advantage, won all quarters of the match and was defeated with a score of 125:101.

For the Lakers, Doncic scored 34 points and Ayton had a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

NBA. Regular season, December 29

Toronto – Golden State – 141:127 Overtime (33:29, 32:35, 31:36, 26:22, 19:5)

toronto: Quickley (27 + 7 assists + 5 turnovers), Ingram (26 + 6 assists), Barnes (23 + 25 rebounds + 10 assists), Barrett (12 + 7 rebounds), Agbaji (10) – start; Walter (18), Mamukelashvili (13), Shed (8 + 8 assists), Dick (4), Temple (0), Bettle (0), Mobo (0).

Golden State: Curry (39), Dr. Green (21 + 7 assists), Butler (19), Pist (8), Moody (3) – start; Podzemski (13), Richard (10 + 7 rebounds + 5 steals), Horford (7 + 7 rebounds), Payton II (4), Hield (3).

Clippers – Detroit – 112:99 (33:20, 27:22, 32:27, 20:30)

cutting machines: Leonard (55 + 11 rebounds + 5 steals), Harden (28 + 7 assists), Batum (12), B. Lopez (7 + 7 rebounds), Dunn (5) – start; D. Jones (3), Niederhauser (2), Miller (0), Sanders (0).

of Detroit: Cunningham (27 + 9 assists), Düren (18 + 14 rebounds), Harris (6), Thompson (6), D. Robinson (5) – start; Ivey (11), Stewart (8), Green (7), LeVert (4), Holland (4), Reed (3), Jenkins (0).

Lakers-Sacramento-125:101 (30:24, 38:29, 31:27, 26:21)

Lakers: Doncic (34 + 7 assists + 5 turnovers), James (24), Hachimura (12), Ayton (11 + 11 rebounds), Smart (0) – start; Smith (21), Larevia (11), Vanderbilt (5), Knecht (3), Thiero (2), Kleber (2), James Jr. (0), Timmy (0).

sacramento: DeRozan (22), Reynaud (16 + 10 rebounds), Westbrook (13 + 6 turnovers), Achiuwa (5), Ellis (2) – start; Schroeder (11 + 7 assists), Monk (11), Clifford (11), Cardwell (7 + 7 rebounds), McDermott (3).

Oklahoma – Philadelphia – 129:104 (32:29, 32:33, 38:24, 27:18)

Oklahoma: Holmgren (29 + 9 rebounds + 4 blocks + 6 turnovers), Gilgeous-Alexander (27), Jaylen Williams (14 + 6 assists), Hartenstein (5), Dort (3) – start; Wiggins (15), Mitchell (13), Wallace (9), Caruso (7), Carlson (4), K. Williams (3), Joe (0), Youngblood (0).

Philadelphia: Maxey (28), George (12), Edgecombe (10), Drummond (4), Barlow (2) – start; Grimes (13), Edwards (12), Bona (11 + 8 rebounds + 4 blocks), McCain (10), Walker (2).

Washington – Memphis – 116:112 (25:27, 35:32, 24:29, 32:24)

washington: Sarr (20 + 9 rebounds + 6 blocks), McCollum (16), Johnson (14), Coulibaly (14 + 8 rebounds), Middleton (10) – start; Bagley (14 + 7 rebounds), Carrington (12 + 7 assists + 8 turnovers), Champigne (10 + 12 rebounds), Brenham (6), Watkins (0), Riley (0).

Memphis: Jaren Jackson (31 + 8 rebounds + 4 blocks), Morant (21 + 7 assists), Aldama (14 + 10 rebounds + 5 steals), Coward (11), Wells (11 + 7 rebounds) – start; Spencer (8 + 7 assists), Jackson (5), Caldwell-Pope (4), Koloko (4 + 7 rebounds), Prosper (3).

Portland – Boston – 114:108 (31:30, 24:33, 31:22, 28:23)

Portland: Sharpe (26), Avdija (24 + 7 rebounds + 10 assists + 5 turnovers), Kamara (20), Clingan (18 + 18 rebounds), Murray (5) – start; Love (18 + 5 losses), Yang Hansen (3), Rooper (0), Sissoko (0).

Boston: Brown (37 + 7 rebounds + 6 turnovers), White (12 + 5 steals), Queta (11 + 8 rebounds), Pritchard (9), Walsh (5) – start; Simons (13), Gonzalez (13), Garza (5), Houser (3), Scheierman (0).

tournament tables

Western Conference

Eastern Conference

Source: Sport UA

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Let’s bow our heads. Legendary basketball player killed by rocket in Lviv

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7 hours ago

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December 29, 2025

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Let’s bow our heads. Legendary basketball player killed by rocket in Lviv

Every day at 9 am, Ukrainians commemorate the people who lost their lives in the Russia-Ukraine war. Today Sport.ua pays tribute to the outstanding Ukrainian basketball player of two EuroBaskets participants, Viktor Kobzisty, who was killed exactly two years ago, on December 29, 2023, supposedly by a Russian missile deep in the lines in Lviv. The man will remain 44 years old forever.

The legend of “Budivelnik”

Viktor Kobzisty was born on March 7, 1979 in Kremenchug, Poltava region. As a child, Victor played hockey and football. I quit football before because I was too high for this game. Later, Kobzisty quit hockey and focused on basketball. Victor, who studied at Kremenchug children’s and youth school No. 2, was considered one of the most talented players of his age in Ukraine.

After graduating from nine secondary school classes, Kobzisty entered the Kremenchug Pedagogical School named after Makarenko and in 1995, at the age of 16, he became a player of Kremenchug Neftekhim, where he made his debut in professional competitions. In 1996, Victor moved to Russian Samara, where he played only in the second team. Due to the fact that the club management rejected the offer to accept Russian citizenship.

In 1999, Kobzisty returned to Ukraine and signed a contract with CSKA Kiev, with which he became the silver medalist of the championship and the winner of the national cup in his first season. The army team finished the next championship in third place, after which Kobzisty moved to the ranks of Mariupol Azovmash.

In 2001, Victor tried playing abroad again – he went to Bulgaria, where he spent a season as a member of Yambolgazy. In the same year, Kobzisty played in the EuroBasket final as part of the Ukrainian national team.

Victor returned to Ukraine in 2002 and immediately became the leader of the Kyiv Budivelnik in the broadest sense. The legendary club was going through difficult times at that time, but the young people gathered in the team led by Kobzisty showed incredible thirst and attracted the attention of the fans with their fighting character. Victor spent four brilliant seasons with the Kyiv team.

Victor Kobzisty (No. 6)

And although “Budivelnik” was not among the leaders at that time, Kobzisty regularly received calls from the Ukrainian national teams. In particular, he played with the national team in the second EuroBasket of his career in 2005 and with the student team in two World Universiades. In 2005, Ukrainians won the silver medal, for which Kobzisty received the title of international master of sports. In 2006, Victor moved to Dnepr, but in 2008 he returned to Budivelnik and with him became the champion of Ukraine for the first time in 2011, after which he ended his playing career.

Dnepr basketball players wear t-shirts in memory of Victor

Coaching activities

Completing his performances, Kobzisty became assistant head coach of Budivelnik in 2011 and worked as an assistant to Josep Berrocal, Zvezdan Mitrovic and Ainars Bagatskis until 2014. Later, Victor took over as head of Dnepr-Azot from Kamensky, with whom he worked for a year.

Ivan Verbitsky’s photo. 2014 Viktor Kobzisty wins the championship with Ainars Bagatskis’ assistant Budivelnik

In 2015, Kobzisty became president of Kremen from his hometown Kremenchug, and in 2017-2018 he played several matches for the club’s second team in the first division. He held this position until 2020 and also served as president of the club’s children and youth sports school.

In 2021, Victor was invited to work at the Lviv City Basketball Federation, and from 2023 he worked as the head coach of the women’s club Dynamo from Kiev, which plays in the Ukrainian Super League.

Death

Viktor Kobzisty also came to Lviv at the end of 2023 on basketball-related matters. He rented an apartment on Gnat Khotkevich Street in the Sykhov residential area. And it was this house that was hit by a Russian missile on December 29. One person died then. Victor Kobzisty.

Victor was buried in his hometown of Kremenchug on January 2, 2024. The funeral took place in St. Nicholas Cathedral, and the basketball player found eternal peace at the Svishtovsky cemetery.

Family

Victor and his wife raised two children. One of the sons, Alexander, now 22, followed in his father’s footsteps and is now also a basketball player. He played on Ukraine’s youth and junior national teams, made his national team debut, and currently plays for the University of Oregon team in the NCAA.

Source: Sport UA

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