Veterans without aging

For Ukrainian Maxibasketball players 2016 was rich with many outstanding sports events. Nikolaev’s veterans contested in the Ukrainian and international tournaments. They showed the best in representing Ukraine to the world.

The traditional memorial tournament in commemoration of Professor Michael Alexandrov was held for the 23^rd time on March 25-27, 2016, in Nikolaev. The National University of Shipbuilding Sports Hall was the host venue of the Tournament. In frames of Alexandrov’s tournament the Ukrainian Maxibasketball Championship 60+ was held. Four teams participated in the championship: AMICO (Nikolaev), the national team of Ukraine 65+, Odessa team and Zhitomir team. AMICO team won all games 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.

Also in frames of the memorial tournament the final of the traditional Shipbuilders Games took place. “MDEM” team (“Marine Design Engineering Company”, director and team’s captain Elena Zhukova) met in the final match with “Ship Design-Korabel” team. Mainly the match passed in equal strife. But “MDEM” players were more organized offensively and in the last period they took game control and claimed their victory by defeating “Ship Design-Korabel” team 62-46 and clinched the Shipbuilders’ Cup. 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.

Ukrainian veterans took part in 9^th  European Maxibasketball Championship which was held from 24.06. to 03.07.2016 in Novi Sad, Serbia. In M60+ division Ukraine was presented by “AMIGO-Nikolayev” team. “AMIGO-Nikolayev M60+” team consisted from the players of Nikolayev Maxibasketball club “AMIGO” with invited Boris Iamkovoy from Donetsk. Nikolaev’s player Andrey Berezhinskiy competed in the line-up of the “Veteran Basket M50+”  Ukrainian team.

After hard-fought tournament’s games “AMIGO-Nikolayev” team in the last match met with “Slovenia-Dekleva” team in the 3^rd place play-off. It was a tug-of-war game where rivals didn’t play humble and beautiful basketball. They just had to be stronger. In the fourth period Slovenian team made aggressive finish and captured third place. . “AMIGO-Nikolaev” team received cheering bronze medals.

Ukrainian female teams (both from “Ladies’ Legion” Club) acted more successfully at the tournament as what male teams. In the legendary “Ladies’ Legion F30+” team Nikolaev’s Maxibasketball was presented by Elena Zhukova. Yuriy Zhukov and Elena Zhukova had given a big help in preparation and sponsoring of these teams.

   In their last game for the third place “Ladies’ Legion F30+” team struggled against old rivals from Lithuania, a real strong side, a team with character, with individual talents. It was a game on a tactically and physically very high levels from both teams. Ukrainians were the better side and deservedly won the match 51-40 and received bronze medals. It was good game, a nice victory. Former Ukrainian female players from different European countries gathered in “Ladies’ Legion F45+” team. . “Ladies’ Legion F45+” team started strongly at the tournament. Ukrainian Ladies did everything they could and often had the early territorial supremacy and possession. In the final “Ladies’ Legion F45+” met with Germany team. In this game Ukrainian girls gave their all against the opponents but didn’t overcome strong Germany’s powerhouse. Silver medals were too good result to “Ladies’ Legion F45+” team and their coach Robert Kukulian.

FIMBA representatives in Ukraine Yuriy Zhukov and Elena Zhukova were honoured to play in the FIMBA GAME match. FIMBA representatives from the different countries were divided into two teams and competed among themselves. The father and daughter Yuriy and Elena Zhukov played in the same team (White) and won the honourable anniversary medals of the Championship. During the Championship FIMBA Europe representatives conference was held in Novi Sad. Participants of the meeting focused on the development of female and male Maxibasketball movement in Europe. Now in Ukraine and in some other countries it is not too easy to find cities with so many gyms. Especially, with proper playing conditions. FIMBA must work on that side. Elena Zhukova shared her dream of Sports Hall in Nikolaev with a complex of basketball courts with superb conditions for training and playing matches, and where international tournaments would take place.

5^th FIMBA Maxibasketbal World League Games were also among the highlights of 2016. The event took place in Costa do Sauipe - Bahia - Brazil, from 29 September to 07 October 2016. Elena Zhukova competed in this tournament and won the silver medal.

In 2017 Nikolaev’s veterans are waited by new achievements and new challenges. Three players of Maxibasketball Club “AMIGO” Boris Gotsuliak, Leonid Prokhorov, Nikolay Drobitsko crossed 70 and entered to the sports 70+ age division. They are delighted to be members of this great Club. These real people continue to play competitive masters basketball at the high level and exemplify the qualities of sportsmanship and fair play which are the hallmarks of AMICO team. They are remarkable candidates for the national team of Ukraine 70+. Their example is an inspiration to more younger Maxibasketball players. We can feel their energy and enthusiasm for life. They look at least 20 years younger. All our veterans forged an unconquerable spirit and physical strength. They became masters of their bodies, minds and souls. They took responsibility for the quality and excellence of their lives and disrupted aging. They believe that age and experience can expand life’s possibilities and make future years meaningful and purposeful.

Now AMICO team’s players look forward to the 14^th FIMBA World Maxibasketball Championship 2017 Italy, Tuscany, Montecatini Termi, with hope that this Tournament will be held in an atmosphere of friendship between people of different countries and different ages.