By Oleksandr Proshuta/ info@eurohoops.net
Khimik Yuzhne is the new Ukrainian champion, after dominating over Dnipro (81-41) in Game 3 of season finals. Khimik swept Dnipro 3-0. Ramone Moore posteda triple-double in Game 3 with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists.
The team from the small town of Yuzhne, coached by Latvian Karlis Muiznieks, won all of its 36 games of the season: 30 in the regular season and 6 in play-offs, with an average points differencial close to 20 pts per game. The point guard Derrick Needham got the fully deserved MVP title.
Khimik won the first title in its history, after silver medals last season and 5 consecutive bronze seasons in the middle 2000-s. Dnipro, who upset the previous champion, Budivelnyk, in a dramatic semifinals series (3-2 in series with 3 extra-periods overall) gained the second place, also for the first time in club’s history. Budivelnyk – champions of 2013 and 2014 – finished just third this year, 3-1 in bronze series vs BC Kyiv.
Budivelnyk was the only team, which beat Khimik this season – in the Ukrainian Cup semifinal. Everyone in Ukraine expected a recap of last season’s finals, but Dnipro objected. The All-tournament team of Superleague 2014/15 includes the following players: PG: Denys Lukashov (Budivelnyk) SG: Ramone Moore (Khimik) SF: Ruslan Otverchenko (BC Kyiv) PF: Stanislav Timofeenko (Dnipro) C: Mikhail Anisimov (Budivelnyk) MVP: Derrick Needham (Khimik)
All in all, Ukrainian Superleague, which was one of the growing national leagues in Europe during last 4-5 years took some steps back. The league’s level decreased drastically this year: Donetsk and Azovmash – long-term powerhouses – didn’t field teams and it’s highly unlikely they will in the next 2-3 years. Budivelnyk (a Euroleague team last year) had a fully Ukrainian roster and only 7 foreigners played in Ukraine this season, while most of the clubs have financial problems and unpaid salaries. No surprise Khimik – one of 2-3 stable clubs, with decent budget and good roster – dominated. No one knows how the league will look next season, because 4-5 clubs can disappear at all this summer, while 90% of quality Ukrainian players are severely looking for options in other mid-level European leagues