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!
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