THE 6^th SUMMER ALL-UKRAINIAN VETERANS GAMES  

      The 6^th Summer All-Ukrainian Veterans Games on basketball in commemoration of Mikhail Baka was held on May 8-11, 2015, in Zhitomir. Veterans competed in M50+ and M60+ age categories.

Mikhail Baka was an outstanding Ukrainian statesman and a top class sports administrator. He made distinguished career in all spheres of his activity. M. Baka deservedly headed the Ministry of Sport of Ukraine. He gave all his time and talents for developing sports in Ukraine. M. Baka received the grateful recognition of his dedicated contribution to the promotion of veterans’ sports activity. The All-Ukrainian Veterans Games in the memory of M. Baka offer senior people to be involved in the sport that they enjoy the most. These games promote active and healthy lifestyle and give opportunity doing sports in the second and third age.

Maxibasketball, as a team game, is an excellent way to develop communication skills and learn to work effectively and friendly with other people. Also basketball is a very physical game and players must develop a strong and healthy body. Maxibasketball teams arrived to Zhitomir as part of a big veterans’ sports family.

On May 8, 2015 at the Vanguard Sports Hall Zhitomir’s officials and dignitaries opened the Games. They wished competitors all the best and new achievements in the Maxibasketball movement. The participants declared their intention to compete in a spirit of friendship, respect and fair play. Veterans said that worries of present Ukrainian situation they used in a positive way to become stronger and better people.

AMICO-Nikolaev team competed in the M60+ age category with teams from Kyiv, Odessa, Dnepropetrovsk and Zhitomir. All games started as planned on May 8, 2015. In the morning game Kyiv team beat Odessa 48 : 36 without big problems and waited for the evening match with AMICO.

Having passed a difficult long way AMICO team arrived to Zhitomir in two hours prior to the game. Kyiv team remembered their defeat against AMICO 36 : 58 on March 22, 2015 at the Aleksandrov’s Tournament and they were eager for a revenge. AMICO team also had the golden aim and started the game at a high pace. AMICO’s captain Yuriy Zhukov in a swift attack opened the score. During the first and second periods AMICO continued to maintain their team’s cushion and finished the first half with a 26 : 22 lead.

But AMICO team kept their physical forces only at the first half of the game. From the beginning of the second half Kyiv’s players heading by V.Karpukhin and V.Yurchenko with          a great inspiration rushed to attack. Yurchenko confirmed that he was a truly spirited athlete and showed a furious offensive playing. He became the best team’s scorer with 13 points. AMICO’s best scorers  A.Shneyder and Yu.Zhukov collected 14 and 9 points respectively. In the second half  Kyiv team constantly increased their advantage and won the game 50 : 38. After this their main victory at the tournament Kyiv team began cruising to the first place. 

Next day AMICO played against Dnipro (Dnepropetrovsk). AMICO dominated the game from the first minutes increasing their lead in each quarter. AMICO outscored Dnipro 33 : 25 in the first half and 32 : 23 in the second half. It ensured a total score 65 : 48 in favor of AMICO. The 70-year-old S.Vasilenko from Dnipro team was recognized as the best scorer with delivering 10 points and as Most Valuable Player (MVP) for his team. Two AMICO’s players scored in double figures: V.Gamov – 27 points, A.Shneyder – 18 points.

On May 10, 2015 there was a game AMICO vs Odessa team. AMICO surely won the match 56 : 40.

Same day AMICO held their last game at the tournament with Zhitomir team which had huge desire to achieve a victory. Zhitomir’s players made an attempt to give battle to the celebrities from Nikolaev. In the first half Zhitomir took the lead 16 : 13.

But skilled AMICO’s players didn’t give themselves to beat. AMICO won the second half 39 : 14 and sealed a 52 : 30 victory.

It ensured them the second place at the tournament. Kyiv captured the first place. Dnipro earned the third position. After an engaging days of competition and camaraderie, the 6^th Summer All-Ukrainian Veterans Games on basketball came to a close on May 11, 2015.