Memorial Tournament 2017

The traditional memorial tournament in commemoration of Professor Michael Alexandrov was held for the 24^th time. The tournament is considered to be the flagship event of the Ukrainian Maxibasketball. The National University of Shipbuilding Sports Hall was the host venue of the tournament from March 31 to April 02 2017.

Competitors, fans and public officials took part in the Opening Ceremony which commenced with the competitors’ parade. The national flag of Ukraine was hoisted while the national anthem was being played. Rector of the National University of Shipbuilding (NUS) Sergey S. Ryzhkov paid tribute to Michael Alexandrov in his speech.  He said that the Tournament promoted active and healthy lifestyle. Maxibasketball players showed to young generation how to reach excellence in athletes and high personal development. Basketball for veterans has become the art of living invincibly. Sergey Ryzhkov said that the Tournament would simply not be possible without the involvement and support of the main organizers Yuriy Zhukov and Elena Zhukova.
This wonderful sporting event was the product of hard work by organizers and other dedicated people. The Opening Ceremony also included entertainment with a spectacular children’s dance performance. In the evening a welcome banquet was attended by the guests of the tournament.

This year Alexandrov’s memorial tournament had a new format. Three competitions were held in frames of the tournament: Ukrainian Maxibasketball male championship 60+, the final of Shipbuilders’ Cup Games and the Women’s AMICO Cup Tournament in 40+ age category. Four teams participated in the Championship 60+: AMICO (Nikolayev),  the national team of Ukraine 70+ , Odessa team and Zhytomyr team. AMICO (Nikolayev) and the national team of Ukraine 70+ will compete in the 14^th FIMBA World Maxibasketball Championship 2017 in Italy.

Alexandrov’s tournament gave a good opportunity to these teams to test their readiness for the World Championship. Zhytomyr team was a tough examiner for AMICO. From the very first minute of the game AMICO had a high effects of throws from Aleksandr Petrov team’s MVP and Yuriy Zhukov despite the strong Zhitomir’s defense. AMICO had a 34-23 lead before halftime. They continued working hard in the third quarter and margin had already reached 12 points (46-34). Zhytomyr made a bright start in the fourth quarter and wiped away 7-point deficit (21-14). But that didn’t help. AMICO secured the 60-55 win. AMICO managed to win three consecutive tournament’s games and retained the Champion’s title. AMICO’s captain Yuriy  Zhukov celebrated victory by holding the Cup aloft. Zhytomyr team proved to be strong opponent and earned the silver medals. The national team of Ukraine 70+ received the bronze medals.

Nikolayev’s femail Maxibasketball team and the legendary “Ladies’ Legion” team from Kyiv took part in the women’s tournament 40+. The “Ladies’ Legion” have won several gold medals on World and European competitions of higher level. Masters of Sports, Masters of Sports of International category, Honored Master Masters of Sports are in the team’s line-up. Elena Zhukova from Nikolayev is one of the champions. “Ladies’ Legion” players have the tenacity and strength of character that makes champions. Setting and achieving goals is a key feature of this team. In order to achieve success they must make dayly sacrifices for basketball. The biggest reinforcement for them is the values of love and honesty to teamgirls. “Ladies’ Legion” engaged aggressively and energetically in the match with Nikolayev team. They showed a huge performance from Elena Vergun team’s MVP with her sharp-shooting and impressive play on the offensive. Nikolayev’s players competed with dignity with a such great team. After the third stanza the score was 44-33 in favor of “Ladies’ Legion”. In the fourth period Ladies continued to fight for each possession and won the game 64-49. Spectators have seen a very impressive game.
For the recently formed Nikolayev team it was a very good result. Nikolayev’s Maxibasketball female team is going in the right direction and their fans have high expectation.

In frames of Alexandrov’s memorial tournament in the final of the Shipbuilders’ Cup Games “MDEM” team (“Marine Design Engineering Cpmpany”, director Elena Zhukova) met with much younger National University of Shipbuilding  team that was consisted of students. Two players from “Ladies’ Legion” team Elena Vergun and Elena Zhukova were in the line-up of the male“MDEM” team. It was a very close game in the opening quarter. NUS team took a 3-point small lead 14-11 at the end of the period. In the second term “MDEM” team managed to tie the game 32-32. In the second half “MDEM” team got out on nice run. They jumped ahead by 13 points and received a 69-56 victory with the Shipbuilders’ Cup.

24^th Alexandrov’s memorial tournament 2017 will be remembered for many things, from unforgettable games to communication with old friends. All tournament’s participants promised that they would take part in the next Alexandrov’s memorial tournament in 2018.