Ukraine are getting ready for EuroBasket 2009 qualifying games against Turkey, Belgium and France under a cloud after five players were instructed by their clubs not to report for national team duty.

No explanation was given by the sides, who took the Ukraine Federation and national team boss Valentyn Melnychuk by surprise.

Sweden put up a superb fight but Hungary won the day to secure their place in EuroBasket Division A while condemning the Scandinavians to relegation.

The Hungarians led just 57-54 with a little more than six minutes remaining but gradually pulled away for a 75-64 triumph.

Israel defeated Bosnia-Herzegovina on Thursday and will now face FYR Macedonia for the right to play at the EuroBasket in Spain.

Amit Tamir led a balanced scoring attack with 15 points for Israel, who are now just one victory away from prevailing in the additional qualifying tournament for the second time in succession.

Hungary hammered Denmark 101-70 on Thursday setting up a showdown with Sweden Friday, for the right to stay in Division A.

After a cruel additional qualifying tournament for EuroBasket 2007 which saw the Hungarians win two of their four games, just as group opponents Bosnia-Herzegovina and Bulgaria, yet drop into the relegation scrap, Istvan Nemeth and his teammates showed their class with a comprehensive victory.

FYR Macedonia are within touching distance of a place in the EuroBasket after a 73-63 triumph over Bosnia-Herzegovina in the third meeting of the two sides this year.

Sky high after overtaking Estonia to reach this phase of the additional qualifying tournament, FYROM started the game like a house on fire and led 29-10 in the final minute of the opening quarter before surviving a brilliant fightback by the Bosnians.

The dream lives on for FYR Macedonia after they moved another step closer to their second EuroBasket by holding off Bosnia-Herzegovina 73-63 on Wednesday in Menorca.

In one of the most exciting two weeks in FYROM basketball history, the team in the Balkans finished top of its additional qualifying round group, edging out Estonia after a thrilling come-from-behind victory in Sweden at the weekend.

Bosnia-Herzegovina lost 74-70 at home to Hungary on Saturday night but still finished top of Group A to advance to the next phase of the additional qualifying tournament in Spain.

All three teams in the group finished with two wins, and two losses, but the order of finish after the goal differential tie-breaker saw Bosnia in first, Bulgaria in second and Hungary in third.