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March 24, 2010 : All greetings....
Last month was so full of basketball events that I have not even
celebrated March 8 (women's day)... All my thoughts and time were
devoted to training and matches. First, we have won a ticket to
the Euroleague Final Four, won two heavy victory over Fenerbahce.
At second, we advanced to the playoff of the championship of Russia,
beating UMMC in the final match in the guest arena!
Now with a huge looking forward to going to Valencia,
host of Euroleague Final 4, where very soon, April 9-11,
will be given medals of the European tournament. For "gold"
Spartak will compete with the best clubs in the Old World, and
in four of the strongest - two russian teams will compete, SPartak
and UMMC Yekaterinburg.
For many years of my career - first in French CJM Bourges, then
with Samara VBM and then with the CSKA Moscow I have played in
the Euroleague. Seven times I reached the Final Four, and
only twice I was lucky to win this competition (with Bourges
and Samara).
This year, along with "Sparta & K "(new
official name of the team) I would very much like the third time
to become a champion of Euroleague. In the semifinal we will
meet again with UMMC, it is a pity that it is not in the match
for first place. Today, it is our clubs that are the strongest
in Europe and they must play each other for the medals... Unfortunately,
this is the rules of the tournament: two teams representing one
country may not play in the finals, so regardless of the results
and standings organizers deliberately push women's Euroleague
representatives of one country in the preliminary stages of the
competition.
Thus, the fate of vouchers in the finals will be decided in the
first game day. I think we have equal chance to compete for gold
against the winner of the second semi final: Valencia - Wisla
Krakow. Especially after the brilliant victory over the Ekaterinburg
team in the regular season in Russia.
The first match we lost Vidnoje with "-8", and we needed
to win in Yekaterinburg 9 or more points - in order to get to
first place in the standings. But, in truth, we are not too wondered
about the difference in the final analysis, just wanted to
compete and win. From the outset, our team took on the
bill and maintained the advantage throughout the game. The
last two weeks we are seriously preparing for this fight, analyzed
the causes of defeat in the last two meetings, attempted to correct
flaws and add the command organization of the attack.
Due to fighting spirit and excellent concentration, we won
this match with the required difference and took the first line-up
of the regular season. I always like to travel to Yekaterinburg,
feels that the people here love and appreciate women's basketball,
every match is a festive event for the whole city.
Ineffable feelings - to play for the full stands, even if these
fans are supporting our rivals! In our game room was sold out,
some six thousand spectators (can you imagine such a present?)
Came to see the duel principal rivals. Unfortunately, a similar
number of fans in the women's basketball, in general, a rarity
for Russia's championship. This season I noticed a loss
of interest from fans of basketball to the women's super league
matches. Perhaps with the exception of our show where people love
and worry about their team, as well as in Orenburg and Yekaterinburg,
in the other cities fans and spectators at the games became much
less. Maybe that way let them know about a financial crisis. Financing
of most teams has fallen, and the best Legion team and the players
were divided into two to a maximum of three teams, and some clubs
have ceased to exist. Perhaps, therefore decreased the overall
level of basketball and as a consequence, decreasing public interest.
However, in that there is a positive thing: now the young players
an opportunity to get more playing time and be yourself.
Already on March 25 will start the playoffs championship of
Russia. In 1 / 8 finals matches lie ahead with a team of Vologda,
I invite all the fans at this game!
Picture: Youlia Fedosseeva
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