Belarus' Fiba Basketball Team: Does It Exist?

Belarus has a men's national basketball team and a women's national basketball team, both of which are controlled by the Belarusian Basketball Federation (BBF). The men's team played their first official match in 1993, the year after they were established following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The BBF is the national governing body of basketball in Belarus. However, FIBA suspended Belarus from participating in basketball and 3x3 basketball competitions after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The Belarusian Basketball Federation (BBF)

The men's national team played their first official match in 1993 against Lithuania. They are Europe's most populous nation to have never qualified for a major international basketball competition. The team attempted to qualify for the premier European basketball tournament in 1993 but were unsuccessful. They also failed to qualify for the EuroBasket finals during the EuroBasket 2017 qualifiers. For the 2019 FIBA World Cup, Belarus advanced to the first round of qualifiers but did not progress further.

The BBF also organises the Belarusian Premier League, which features teams such as BC Minsk, Brest, and Rubon Vitebsk.

In 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, FIBA suspended Belarus from participating in basketball and 3x3 basketball competitions. They were also banned from hosting any competitions and withdrew from the 2022-23 national team and club competition season.

Belarus men's national basketball team

The Belarus men's national basketball team represents Belarus in international basketball matches and is controlled by the Belarusian Basketball Federation. The team was formed in 1992 after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, with their first official match taking place the following year against Lithuania.

Before 1992, Belarusian players competed as part of the Soviet Union national team. Since gaining independence, Belarus has never qualified for a major international basketball competition, making them Europe's most populous nation in this category.

Belarus has come close to qualification on several occasions, most notably during the EuroBasket 2017 qualifiers, where they achieved a record of 3-3 but ultimately fell short of advancing. They also advanced to the first round of qualifiers for the 2019 FIBA World Cup, finishing with a 1-5 record in their group.

The team was suspended from participating in international competitions by FIBA after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The Belarusian Basketball Federation actively promotes the sport within the country, organising basketball skill competitions and festivals for children and youth. They also place a strong emphasis on coaching development and regulatory compliance.

Belarus women's national basketball team

The Belarus women's national basketball team represents Belarus in international women's basketball tournaments. The team is controlled by the Belarusian Basketball Federation.

After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the FIBA suspended Belarus from participating in basketball and 3x3 basketball competitions. Belarus was part of the Soviet Union until 1991.

Belarus finished with bronze at the 2019 European Games on home soil. The team's roster for the EuroBasket Women 2021 included Aliaksandra Tarasava, Tatsiana Likhtarovich, Anastasiya Verameyenka, Natallia Dashkevich, and Maryna Ivashchanka. Dashkevich and Ivashchanka both stand at 1.90m (6 ft 3in), giving them a size advantage over most opponents.

The Belarusian Basketball Federation has also organised basketball skill competitions for pupils in Minsk as part of the "Step into the Future" campaign. They also held a training camp for the U-15 girls' national team in Molodechno prior to the 2022/2023 international and national competitions.

Belarus men's national under-18 basketball team

Belarus does have a men's national basketball team that competes in FIBA (International Basketball Federation) tournaments. The team was formed in 1992 after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and they played their first official match in 1993 against Lithuania.

While Belarus has never qualified for a major international basketball competition, they have actively participated in several FIBA tournaments over the years. For instance, they took part in the qualifiers for the EuroBasket 2017, where they were placed in Group D. Despite winning three out of six matches, they were unfortunately eliminated.

Belarus also participated in the 2019 FIBA World Cup European Pre-Qualifiers, advancing to the first round of qualifiers. They were then placed in Group A, where they faced strong opponents like Slovenia and Montenegro. Although they managed a win against Slovenia, they could not progress further.

In addition to the senior men's team, Belarus also fields youth basketball teams for various age groups, including an under-18 men's national team. These youth teams are part of the country's basketball development program and compete in regional and international tournaments.

Unfortunately, I could not find specific information about the results or performances of the Belarus men's national under-18 basketball team in particular. However, it is clear that basketball is actively promoted among children and youth in Belarus through initiatives like the 'Step into the Future' basketball festival and the training camps for the under-15 girls' national team.

Belarus men's national under-16 basketball team

Belarus does have a FIBA basketball team. The Belarus men's national basketball team represents the country in international basketball matches and is controlled by the Belarusian Basketball Federation. The team came into existence in 1992 after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

The country also has a Belarus men's national under-16 basketball team. The Belarusian Basketball Federation has been organising training camps for young players, with a camp for the U-15 girls' national team held in 2022, for example. The Federation also runs basketball skill competitions for children.

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