The ESBA’17 Championship ended on a high note, as we handed out team and individual awards. We’d like to congratulate all the participants and fans with the final review of the tournament.
M40/45
UD proved to be the most dominant team in the entire tournament, as the 38-point win in the final against Veteranos Torrelavega was their smallest winning margin. The Ukrainians shot ahead in the second quarter with a 30-7 10-minute run and never looked back. After leading in the game end to end, they rose victorious and triumphant, 87-49. This was the Spaniards’ first loss and they will still be proud of their achievement. Dmytro Briantsev was selected the MVP of the age group.
Interwood, who won the M45 final, also beat Santander in the battle for bronze in the M40 group after a tough fight, 69-62. Led by the duo of Maksim Susloparov and Maksim Markov, who had 27 points with 12 rebounds and 18 points with 13 rebounds, respectively, the Russians shot ahead early and managed to hold on to a slim margin down the road. Khalit Vagapov was chosen the MVP of the M45 age group.
M50
Dinamo was just as dominant in the M50 age group and they were by far the better team in the final, winning the game 83-62 against Mecury-Kazan. Even 30 points from Sergey Shvydkyy was not enough to keep the Kazan side in the game, as Aleksei Ugriumov, who was selected the MVP of the age group, led Dinamo with 21 points.
Lithuanian side Omega Kaunas finished the tournament victoriously behind a monstrous performance by Arvydas Venclovas. The forward scored more than half – 29 – of the team’s points, and marked the end of the tournament with a 56-52 victory over Great & Co.
M55
KFU Gorod Kazan raised the trophy in the M55 age group, as they beat Aladushkin Group 60-49. Vadim Shvestov, the best rebounder in the age group, was selected as the MVP with a terrific performance in the finals. Shvestov had 12 points and 17 rebounds and ignited an important win.
Russian Project grabbed the bronze after an outstanding performance from Oleg Portnyagin. The guard had 26 points and 9 assists, as Russian Project beat Garkalne 77-67.
M60/65/70
Babailar had no trouble with Ranga-Statyba, beating the Lithuanians 79-52. Aleksandr Trubach was selected the MVP of the M60 category, as he had 30 points and 11 rebounds in the victory.
CSKA Veterans continued their dominant run in the tournament with a monstrous win against Vilniaus Statybos Senjorai. The game finished 76-36 behind a 12-point and 21-rebound performance from Victor Petrakov. Petrakov was chosen the MVP of his age group.
Valerii Tashchilin of Kazan was the MVP of the M70 age group.
W40/45
Ana Pombo was chosen MVP of the W40 group, as AMIDE Basketball Friends won the age category.
In the W45 age group, the award went to Jolanta Jurciuviene of BC Svaja.
W50/55
Tatjana Susnica Relic was selected the best player in the W50 age group, as her team, Maximum International won the trophy. They beat Koshki in a low-scoring affair, as the game ended 47-37. Relic finished the game with 5 points and 9 rebounds, but was consistent all tournament long.
Zeltenes Latvia won the W55 final, with Lorita Sausa earning MVP honors. The Latvian ladies defeated neighboring Kamane from Lithuania 36-30 and earned the title.