Maxibaskeball achievements of 2014

           Maxibasketball is very popular in Nikolaev. Nikolaev’s veterans improve their health and well being through the sport of basketball and physical activity. They take part in different Maxibasketball events.

Yuriy Zhukov, FIMBA-Ukraine Representative, President of Maxibasketball Club “AMIGO”, summed up Maxibasketball results of 2014. Again this season our veterans have achieved a lot of great results on the basketball court and have proved that they are the top Maxibasketball players. It is a reflection of veterans’ hard-work training and their passion for the sport, as well as strong support from our fans.

In 2014 new age category M65+ was set up in Ukrainian Maxibasketball Championships. On January 31 to February 2, 2014, in Dnepropetrovsk, the first Ukrainian Maxibasketball Championship in M65+ age category according to the version of Association of Veterans of Basketball of Ukraine (AVBU) was held. In the match Kyiv team vs AMICO the rates were very high, because the winner became a champion and loser received only the third place. In this fierce game Kyiv ground out a 42-32 win and captured the trophy. AMICO got bronze medals.

The traditional memorial tournament in commemoration of Professor Michael Alexandrov was held for the 21st time on March 28-29, 2014, in Nikolaev. The National University of Shipbuilding (NUS) Sports Hall was the host venue of the Tournament. The event started with honoring the memory of Michael Alexandrov, great scientists, sportsman, painter and musician.

In the final AMICO played against its archrival and reigning owner of the Tournament’s Cup – team of Security Service of Ukraine (SSU). Since 1993, AMICO team for the 19 consecutive times was winner of the tournaments dedicated to Michael Alexandrov. But last year SSU team defeated AMICO and conquered the Cup. In this battle AMICO was eager for a revenge. And AMICO triumphed with a convincing 103-69 victory over SSU team and achieved an incredible record of twenty memorial tournaments’ wins that will go in history.

On April 4-6, 2014, in Nikolaev, the Ukrainian Maxibasketball Championship in M55+ age category was held on the second stage of the traditional tournament in commemoration of Professor Michael Alexandrov. In the final AMICO and Donetsk team competed for gold medals. After previous tournament’s intense games three AMICO’s players were traumatized and could not play against Donetsk team. Despite their weakened line-up AMICO showed effective offensive actions. But at the price of improbable efforts Donetsk won the game 69:58 and got the Champion’s title.

The Ukrainian Maxibasketball Championship 60+ was held on May 1-4, 2014, in Lviv. Here Lviv team claimed their Champion’s title. AMICO earned the second position at the Ukrainian Maxibasketball Championship in the category over 60 years old.

Dnepropetrovsk Federation of Basketball and Dneprobasket Club organized the Ukrainian Maxibasketball Championship 40+, 45+, 50+. This prestigious event was held on June 5-8, 2014, in Dnepropetrovsk. AMICO competed in M50+ age category. In this age category Dnipro team (Dnepropetrovsk) won all games and added the Championship crown to their trophy case. The silver medals went to Kyiv team. The bronze medals were assigned to AMICO.

8th FIMBA European Maxibasketball Championship became the brightest sports event of 2014. The Tournament was held from June 26 to July 6, 2014 in Ostrava, Czech Republic. 106 teams, 1600 participants from 18 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. This result provided to Ukraine the first place in Europe in all-teams competition. It was the new amazing achievement of the Ukrainian Maxibasketball. Our veterans enhanced the overall image of Ukrainian sport. Elena Zhukova, the representative of Nikolaev City, in a line-up of the Ukrainian “Ladies’ Legion” team won a silver medal. AMIGO-Moldova (united Ukrainian-Moldovian team) captured European bronze medals.

The international memorial tournament in commemoration of Nikolay Bagley, outstanding Ukrainian basketball player, was held for the 23rd time on November 21-23, 2014, in Kyiv. Twelve teams participated in the tournament. In frames of Bagley Tournament Ukrainian Women’s Maxibasketball Championship was held. Elena Zhukova from Nikolaev took part in two age categories competitions and won two gold medals!

AMICO team competed in M60+ age category. In the final game AMICO battled for gold medals with strong Lithuanian Vilnius team. Our team didn’t miss a golden opportunity and celebrated the well-deserved 58:54 victory. The Nikolay Bagley Memorial Cup was handed to AMICO team for the first time in its history.

In 2015 we will participate in competitions of FIMBA Maxibasketball League (April 11-16, 2015, Zadar, Croatia) and in 13th FIMBA World Maxibasketball Championship (August 20-30, 2015, Orlando, Florida, United States). Now Ukrainian veterans prepare for new competitions and new victories. In 2015 all of us together will overcome all difficulties and we will win!