13th FIMBA World Maxibasketball Championship took place from 20 to 30 of August 2015 in Orlando, Florida, United States. 228 teams from 36 countries, more than 10000 competitors and guests took part in the Championship. It is the new amazing achievement of FIMBA tournament. There were 147 men’s teams from M30+ to M75+ age categories and 81 women’s teams from F30+ to F55+ age categories. Ukraine was presented by one female team “Ladies’ Legion” in F30+ age category and two male teams in M50+ and M60+ age categories.

Teams played at world-class courts of the famous ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando. Organizers made the best social, sports and tourism conditions and the tools to achieve joy during the time of event. Orlando is reach with elite sports facilities and with opportunities for recreation and entertainment. Off the court, international guests were able to fill their time visiting magical Walt Disney World, theme parks, water parks and other unique natural wonders. Orlando offers an incredibly high quality of life for residents and visitors. But in summer Orlando also has the negative features due to a humid subtropical climate. The huge humidity and heat, frequent rainfalls created difficulties to male and female athletes at the Championship.

But nothing and nobody could stop the Ukrainian female team. “Ladies’ Legion” won World Cup. The Kyiv’s basketball players were a basis of the team, also there were the players from other cities of Ukraine, one sportswoman from Russia and the Ukrainian basketball player who lives in USA. In the “Ladies’ Legion” team Nikolaev City was presented by Elena Zhukova. Elena confidently became a member of the stellar Ukrainian female team playing with a spirit of victory in its line-up at top-level international tournaments. She scores a bit of points and assists at just the right moments. Also she has ability to take charge at thrilling situations of the game, asserting herself as a fighter. Elena Zhukova is the holder of the silver medal from 8th FIMBA European Maxibasketball Championship Ostrava-2014, gold-medal winner of the FIMBA World League Zadar-2015 and now – the World Champion! As sports authority Elena from May 2015 is the Member of the International Women Committee formed during the II FIMBA Europe Congress in Zadar.

A very experienced coaching-consulting group with “Ladies’ Legion” team arrived at the tournament. Maxim Zherzherunov developed for each match amazing, unexpected for opponents game plan. Also he instructed players to the last technical and tactical details, steering talented, hard-working female team to the Champion’s title. After that communication Ukrainian female players were extremely motivated and cut down rivals like scythe slicing grass. “Ladies” were so impressive, so dominant, that it seemed like no contestant had a chance. For invaluable help and great support of the “Ladies’ Legion” team Maxim Zherzherunov and Yuriy Zhukov, FIMBA-Ukraine President, received gold medals.

“Ladies’ Legion” started their way to the World Cup with victory over Finland 74-32. Then teams from South America were rivals of the Ukrainian team only. Players of these teams differed in quick and tough playing. To the team’s players it was very difficult to keep constantly high physical and emotional level during all distance of the tournament. But with “Ladies’ Legion” in Orlando there were their true friends. Always at all matches where Ukrainian teams played there was a solid squad of their fans. They supported Ukrainian athletes with all their loving hearts and basketball-devoted souls.

With the help of their fans “Ladies” consistently one by one beat all teams from South America:

Ukraine - Costa Rica - 71:28; Ukraine - Chile - 67:38; Ukraine - Uruguay - 81:22; Ukraine - Argentina - 79:46. In the Final Ukrainian team repeatedly overcame Chile 59-43. “Ladies’ Legion” made gold-medal effort and showed gold-medal performance in each game of the tournament. Deservedly their hard work has been crowned with great victory at the World Championship.

Ukrainian men’s “Veteran Basket” team played in the division M50+. The team based on players from Kyiv, Kirovograd, Odessa and Mukachevo Maxibasketball Clubs. In the “Veteran Basket” team there were many celebrities of last years. Aleksandr Volkov, Olympic champion and former NBA player, Yuriy Kosenko, Honoured Master of Sports, Andrey Podkovirov, outstanding Ukrainian coach were the members of this team. “Veteran Basket” won all matches in their subgroup and took the first place. In the Eight-Finals Ukrainian team met with Team USA, hosts of the Championship. Later this team won the World Cup in the final. Team USA M50+, in which there were many former basketball players of NBA, with huge efforts pulled out a victory. U.S. players took only a two-point edge at the end of the game 68-66. After this loss Ukrainian players could fight only for the fifth place in the standings. And they executed the task, thumping “Siktivkar”, Russia 74-37 and “Italia A”, Italy 80-64. At the World Championship “Veteran Basket” proved that the team had fine Maxibasketball prospects in the nearest future.

In M60+ age category Ukraine was presented by “Big Game AMICO” team. This team consisted mainly from the players of Nikolaev Maxibasketball Club “AMICO” and Basketball Club “Dneprobasket” from Dnepropetrovsk. During more than ten years the players of these teams united in one strong squad in order to participate in the top European and World tournaments. “Big Game AMICO” team was coached by Aleksandr Petrov from Nikolaev. Nikolaev City also was presented by AMICO’s players: Yuriy Zhukov, Aleksandr Shneyder, Vladimir Gamov, Yakov Kultyhin, Leonid Sorokin. In the preliminary round “Big Game AMICO” team defeated powerful Estonian “Kalev” team 61-53, future holders of the silver medals. But in the Semi-Finals Ukrainian team lost to the Estonian team 51-71. In the Final “USA 60’s” team overcame “Kalev”, Estonia 98-49. Brazilian team and “Big Game AMICO” team participated in the game for the semi-finals losers. For their luck Brazilian players had advantages in Orlando’s hot and humid subtropical climate. They won this match 65-46. “Brazilia A” team received bronze medals. Cheering bronze medals were given to the “Big Game AMICO” team. Ukrainian Player Yuriy Zhukov was honoured to play for the FIMBA World Team.

Now Ukrainian veterans with their new Orlando’s experience are preparing for the next sports destination – FIMBA European Maxibasketball Championship which will take place from June 25 to July 3, 2016, in Novi Sad, Serbia.