Ukraine at FIMBA’Europe 2014 in Ostrava

         8th FIMBA European Maxibasketball Championship took place from June 26 to July 6, 2014 in Ostrava, Czech Republic. “The age is no handicap” – motto of the Tournament. 106 teams, 1600 participants from 20 countries took part in the Championship. Ukraine was presented by four men teams and three women teams.

       For the first time Ukraine won three gold medals and two silver medals. It is the new amazing achievement of the Ukrainian Maxibasketball. This result provided to Ukraine the first place in Europe in an all-teams competition. Five of seven Ukrainian participating teams became a medalists of the Championship, that is 71%. Further on this main generalized indicator there are Lithuania (63%) and Germany (53%). The hostess of the Championship the Czech Republic is on the fourth place (25%). But the greatness of Ukrainian Maxibasketball players is measured by more than just trophies and medals. They exemplify selfness play and dedication to their team. Our veterans always compete in a spirit of friendship, respect and fair play. Human dignity counts far more than medals.

     Ukrainian national female team F40+ age category won the gold medals. Ukraine was presented by AMIGO-Carpathian team. The team was organized by Mukachevo Club “Carpathian Bears” in cooperation with licensed Nikolaev Maxibasketball Club “AMIGO”. Before the final AMIGO-Carpathian team consistently won all five matches and collected 384 points during the Championship. In the final AMIGO-Carpathian met with hosts, Czech Republic team. All match passed in persistent equal strife with approximately equal score. During the last minute of the game, whichever team had possession of the ball looked like they would win the match. Czech team went ahead 48 : 46 with three seconds remaining and waited for their triumph. But the final three-point blow was made by AMIGO-Carpathian team’s captain Olga Prodan right before the buzzer for a 49 : 48 lead. It was a real witchcraft ! Ukrainian team won the European female gold.

         Ukrainian women team F35+ age category won the silver medals. The team consisted of Kyiv’s Ladies’ Legion Club players with invited Elena Zhukova from Nikolaev. Young ladies successfully began the career in Maxibasketball. Best scorers in the Ukrainian team’s line-up Irina Chekhova and Elena Verkhun finished the Championship with 85 and 63 points respectively. Ahead the new Maxibasketball female generation has a bright and interesting sports life at the European and World’s basketball courts.

         More senior ladies from Ukrainian female team F45+ age category, presented by Ladies’ Legion Club, also won the silver medals. During the Tournament the best lady-legionaries Olga Makovkina and Tetyana Movchan scored 59 and 58 points respectively.

         The national men team of Ukraine M40+ got the gold medals. “UD Kiev Ukraine” team represented Ukraine in the Championship. Former professional players of the Ukrainian Basketball Super League had no problems with their opponents. In the semi-final they confidently outscored Nazionale Italia team 74 : 54. In the final UD Kiev Ukraine met with Lithuanian Alkajas-Dastra team. Ukrainian players closed the game with 11 points advantage 76 : 65 and celebrated their gold victory.

          In the M65+ age category the gold medals were given to the national team of Ukraine. The Ukrainian team was represented by Dnepropetrovsk Big Game Club strengthened by other Ukrainian players. Under the leadership of the coach Vladimir Korobkov and the captain Evgeniy Vikharev the national team of Ukraine M65+ won all six matches of the Tournament. In the semi-final Ukrainian team wiped Latvian LBSK-Tukums team 68 : 40. In the final Ukrainian veterans overcame strong Germany A team 48 : 38. No question Ukraine deserved this victory.

        The national team of Ukraine M65+ underlined their status as the dominant side on the European continent.

      Besides the above teams Ukrainian players were registered at the roster of AMIGO-Moldova (united Ukrainian-Moldavian team). In all matches before the semi-final AMIGO-Moldova player’s offensive, strong shooting play put the team out of reach.

Chronology of the AMIGO-Moldova team’s matches:

AMIGOMoldova - Czech Rep. A - 68 : 47;

AMIGOMoldova - Russia - 56 : 47;

AMIGOMoldova - Germany C - 86 : 34;

AMIGOMoldova - Austria - 81 : 46.

One of the things that makes basketball so unique is how much can happen in the dying seconds of a game. In the semi-final AMIGO-Moldova and Germany A teams provided a perfect illustration of this. In the last period with ten seconds to play AMIGO-Moldova led 42 : 40 and had a strong confidence of their happy future. But everything changed. It was the price of coach’s mistake not to use an immediate technical foul. German player Reiner Greunke managed to force AMIGO-Moldova’s defense into violation and make a field throw. As a result he scored two-points goal and realized foul-shot to put Germany ahead 43 : 42 within the final second. AMIGO-Moldova had no time anymore to win.

After losing semi-final victory AMIGO- Moldova tore apart Czech Republic C team 58 : 39 to capture European bronze medals. The best scorer of AMIGO-Moldova team Alexander Petrov (Nikolaev, Ukraine) delivered 68 points in all six games.

         The big impression also was made by the Opening Ceremony of the European Maxibasketball Championship. The competitors walked the arena floor in the Parade of athletes. Ukrainian team received standing ovation from spectators. It was a real support for all Ukrainian people in their struggle for independence and democracy.

     The hosts organized a VIP party for FIMBA Representatives, teams’ members, authorities and special guests. Ukrainian delegation met with Ostrava city heads and legendary Czech basketball players. All participants enjoyed the ambiance of the great Maxibasketball event.

We should thank those people without the aid of whom victories of our national teams couldn't take place.

First of all they are coaches – Vladimir Korobkov (M65+), Victor Kvasha (F40+), Oleg Ruban (M40+), Robert Kukulyan (F35+ and F45+).

         There was also other important factor of victories of our teams in the Championship - fans of Ukrainian delegation. Fans so sincerely wished success to the national teams that their support simply forced Ukrainian players to apply a maximum of efforts for a victory. Always with our players at all competitions, there is a devoted and solid team of fans. These are Valentina Karpukhina, Svetlana Vikhareva, Lyudmila Zaika, Lyubov Zhukova, Sergey Pravosudovich, Anatoly Tesla, Pavel Zaika and others.

          The invaluable help for an organizing and financial support of our teams participation in the European Championship was rendered by FIMBA-Ukraine Representative Yuriy Zhukov, President of Association of Veterans of Basketball of Ukraine (AVBU) Vladimir Karpukhin, President of BC “Budivelnik” Bogdan Guliamov, President of “Big Game” club Michael Haykin, Boris Gordeev, Lena Zhukova, Sergey Filbaba, Yuriy Kolobov, etc. These authorities helped to display to the European and World Maxibasketball new talented Ukrainian players and to motivate their neoteric achievements.

Now Ukrainian Maxibasketball players are focused on the next destination – 2015 FIMBA World Maxibasketball Championship in Orlando, Florida, United States of America.