Basketball and Media: How the First Media Slam Took Place in the Capital

On April 4, 2023, a landmark event for Ukrainian basketball, known as Media Slam, was held in Kyiv. This event marked the first open media event in the history of the Superleague, organized by the Basketball Federation of Ukraine with the support of title sponsor GGBET. The format of the meeting brought together media representatives, clubs, players, and organizers for an open dialogue about Ukrainian basketball beyond the court.

During the Media Slam, participants had the opportunity to discuss the results of the GGBET Superleague regular season, as well as the performances of the men's and women's national teams of Ukraine. One of the key events of the gathering was the awarding of the symbolic five of the regular championship, which was an important moment for recognizing the achievements of the players. Speakers at the event included the General Secretary of the Basketball Federation of Ukraine, Volodymyr Drabikovskyi, head coach of BC Kyiv-Basket, Dmytro Zabirchenko, and Superleague players Mykhailo Bublyk from BC Kyiv-Basket and Anton Buts from BC Zaporizhzhia. Additionally, CEO of GGBET UA, Serhii Mishchenko, presented BC Kyiv-Basket with a monetary certificate for their victory in the Ukrainian Cup.

Serhii Mishchenko, CEO of GGBET UA, noted, "We entered Ukrainian basketball not just for the logo on a banner — for us, this is a systemic story. We see how interest in basketball is growing, and we want to be part of this growth. And when Kyiv-Basket wins the Cup — it is important that such victories do not go unnoticed. The hotter the competition, the stronger Ukrainian basketball becomes." These words emphasize the importance of supporting and developing basketball in Ukraine, especially in the face of modern challenges.

Volodymyr Drabikovskyi, General Secretary of the FBU, also shared his thoughts on the regular season, stating, "The GGBET Superleague regular season was one of the strongest in recent years. Nine teams conducted a full championship despite all the challenges. This time, competition reached a new level — the leader lost points and lost the Cup, while outsiders achieved victories over favorites. It was difficult to predict the final standings. The playoffs are ahead, and we are confident — it will be very interesting." These comments reflect the growing competitiveness in Ukrainian basketball, making it even more exciting for fans.

GGBET serves as the title sponsor of the Ukrainian Basketball Championship 'Superleague' GGBET, and also supports the men's and women's national basketball teams of Ukraine. Media Slam became the first event of its kind in the history of the Superleague, allowing for an open dialogue between organizers, clubs, players, and media. Participants of the meeting discussed not only the outcomes of the regular season but also the performances of the national teams, playoff prospects, and the development of the championship amid wartime conditions. Speakers highlighted the increasing competitiveness of the league, the return of fans to the stands, and the challenges that clubs face every season.

The GGBET Superleague has already moved to the playoff stage, where the top eight teams from the regular season continue to fight for the championship. In the first playoff matches, Dnipro defeated Cherkasy Mavpy with a score of 93:62, Kyiv-Basket beat Zaporizhzhia with a result of 73:64, Kharkiv Sokoly won against Niko-Basket with a score of 89:81, and Rivne triumphed over Prykarpattia-Goverla with a score of 71:79. These results indicate the high tension and intrigue that prevails in the playoffs, where every team fights for their chance to become champions.

GGBET operates in accordance with the licenses issued on August 23, 2023, according to the decisions of KRAIL No. 128 and No. 129 dated August 8, 2023. This confirms the legality and transparency of their operations in Ukraine, which is an important aspect for the development of the sports industry in the country.