Ukrainian Championship 60+ in frames of 23rd memorial tournament in commemoration of Professor M. Alexandrov

    23rd memorial veterans tournament in commemoration of Professor Michael Alexandrov took place from 25 to 27 of March 2016 in Nikolaev. The tournament is annual sporting event that is regarded as one of the premier on the Ukrainian basketball landscape. Nikolaev always promised a warm welcome to the athletes. In frames of Alexandrov’s tournament the Ukrainian Maxibasketball Championship 60+ was held. Veterans participated in this competition in loving memory of the great man. The tournament was a big holiday for veterans. They enjoyed communication with old friends. Senior athletes consider basketball as a gift of destiny. Basketball gives them active, healthy lifestyle, fun and fellowship. They aren't associated with diseases and disability. The effect of regular training is a relatively cheap and available treatment for Ukrainian people. It is the best medicine. The tournament’s participants demonstrate that every senior sportsman can wipe a few years from his age. Any of them has no qualms about his future long life and good health.

Four teams participated in the championship: AMICO (Nikolaev), the national team of Ukraine 65+, Odessa team and Zhitomir team. On March 25, 2016 AMICO-Nikolaev and Odessa team opened the championship. AMICO found a winning spirit from the starting minutes and turned the game into a one-way traffic. They secured a 45-29 halftime lead. Nikolaev dominated throughout the third term, accumulating a 67:44 advantage at the final intermission and never looked back in route to a comfortable win 85: 67. Worth to mention a great performance of Alexandr Petrov who helped AMICO to win the game scoring 43 points. Odessa’s player V.Yurin collected a team-high 23 points.

After that the national team of Ukraine 65+ faced Zhitomir team. More senior players competed as equals with rivals from Zhitomir. Only at the end of the third term Zhitomir took a 3-point small lead 35-32. In the fourth period the destiny of the match had to be decided. There was no lack of excitement in the last period of the game. The national team of Ukraine 65+ had found a way to equal the scoring in the last seconds of the match in rigid fight 46-46 and had got a chance to win. But Zhitomir’s player Oksamitniy hit a buzzer beating two-pointer to win the game 48:46.

 Next day on March 26 there was a game AMICO vs Zhitomir team. AMICO controlled entire game increasing their lead in each quarter: 26:9, 14:10, 21:11, 15:4 and settled outcome of the game 76:34. As usual Alexandr Petrov and Yuriy Zhukov inspired teammates to overcome and led their squad to victory.

  In the second match the national team of Ukraine 65+ battled with Odessa team. The national team of Ukraine 65+ pulled away rapidly from the start and took a 18:9 advantage in the first quarter. The gap had grown to 29:13 at the halftime break before increasing to 25 points (44:19) after a tough third period. Odessa team with great efforts trimmed the deficit only to 3 points winning the last period 12:9. The national team of Ukraine 65+ celebrated a convincing 53:31 victory over Odessa.

In the last day of the tournament on March 27 Odessa competed against Zhitomir team. Odessa sprinted ahead 17:7 in the first term. In the second period Zhitomir didn't allow opponents to jump ahead and the score was equal 14:14. In the third quarter Odessa took a 2-point lead 19:17. In the last stanza they extended their lead to 18:11 that allowed Odessa team to win the game 68:49.

In the match AMICO- the national team of Ukraine 65+ Nikolaev won three periods with small advantage: 20:18, 16:6, 13:8. The fourth quarter was more intense and productive. After sharp mutual attacks the fourth term ended with the score 26:22 in favor of Nikolaev team. AMICO had fought a75:54 gold-medal victory and captured the Tournament’s Cup. AMICO’s player Alexandr Petrov showed an amazing result, collecting 114 points in three games. Any player from other teams didn't overcome 50-point mark. The national team of Ukraine 65+ won the silver medals. Odessa team earned the third position. The guests of the tournament were very grateful to the organizers Yuriy Zhukov, Elena Zhukova, Boris Gordeev, who had donated innumerable efforts to make this excellent sports event.