Wind of Change in Ukrainian Maxibasketball

    In 2018 from 16 to 23 of June, six men’s and four women’s Ukrainian Maxibasketball teams participated in the ESBA Championship in the host city Pula, Croatia. For the first time the national men’s team of Ukraine competed in the eldest male age group M70+ .MBC “AMICO” from Nikolayev was presented by Yakiv Kultigin, Boris Gotsuliak and Nikolay Drobitsko. It was this team that had won the gold medals.

In the same 2018, from September 21 to September 23, the Ukrainian championship in new for Ukrainian Maxibasketball M70+ age men’s division was held for the first time in Dnipro City. Sport Club “BIG GAME” organized this event. Four teams from Kyiv, Dnipro, Nikolayev and Krivoy Rog took part in the Tournament. Organizers facilitated all participants to realize opportunities for competition at the highest level and physical fitness. This event encouraged all players to the personal development, sportsmanship, and well being. 70 year old players competed in this tournament at a high level of quality. They were dedicated to the healthy lifestyle and they were in excellent shape.

On September 21, 2018 in the first tournament’s day Dnipro team in a highly competitive game managed to get 5-point lead 34-29 against AMICO team from Nikolayev. Kyiv outscored Krivoy Rog team 43-38. On September 22, 2018 in the second day of the tournament Krivoy Rog saved a 2-point victory edging Nikolayev 36-34. Same day Dnipro battled with Kyiv. Dnipro led from the first minutes and controlled entire game increasing their lead in each quarter. They dominated during the game scoring 58 points compared to Kyiv’s 37. In the last day of the tournament AMICO battled with Kyiv team. The teams were close all the way through three periods. In the last period Kyiv managed to get lead which allowed them to win the game 39-32. Dnipro used a home court’s advantage and beat the opponent from Krivoy Rog 47-17 winning that tournament.

Ukrainian 70 year old players showed their commitment to healthy lifestyle, physical fitness, lifelong learning and goals setting. That tournament was the celebration of healthy living and competitive fair play. Our veterans demonstrate over a number of years that later years can be productive, meaningful, and purposeful. They have will to work so hard to develop their talents and live each year to the fullest.

Big changes are also happening in Ukrainian women's Maxibasketball. This was confirmed by the tournament in Odessa that took place in 2018 from 28 to 30 of September. In this real, genuine basketball event in the men’s M55+ age category competed united team of Odessa, the national teams of Lithuania and Ukraine. Also women’s united team of Odessa 35+ and united team of Ukraine 45+ participated in the tournament. In the Ukrainian united team most of players were from Kyiv’s “Ladies’ Legion” team with invited players from MBC “AMICO”, Nikolayev City and “Carpathian Bears” from Mukachevo.

The teams played two games with each other. Both games were very tough. The first game was ended with combat draw 51-51. In the second game Ukrainian united team 45+ took the 67-59 victory against united team of Odessa 35+ that never stopped fighting.

In order to successfully participate in the next 15th FIMBA World Maxibasketball Championship 2019 in Finland Elena Zhukova from MBC “AMICO” proposed to create a powerful Ukrainian united team in women’s F45+ age division. At the meeting of Organizing Committee, consisting of representatives of the teams and authorities of the Veterans Basketball Association, this proposal was approved. As a FIMBA representative in Ukraine Elena Zhukova registered “Ukraine United” team in order to compete in the FIMBA World Maxibasketball Championship 2019. Since that day, she began to spend much trouble on creation a team that will win the World Cup. Negotiations were held on the participation of candidates for the national team of Ukraine in joint performances in basketball tournaments in Ukraine and abroad. The players had previously scheduled the participation of the united team in the tournament in commemoration of master of sports of USSR Nikolay Bagley in Kyiv on November 16-18, 2018 and Kaunas FIMBA World League 2019 on April 22-27, 2019.

Now Ukrainian women's Maxibasketball is committed to the highest world level. Elena Zhukova and Organizing Committee are working on creating a united team that will be an unstoppable force in the FIMBA World Maxibasketball Championship 2019. They set a goal to become world champions. No more, no less!