The Manresa basketball and his fans were shocked this Sunday morning by the news of the death of the club’s former player Ruslan Otverthenko, who performed at the Congost club in the 2015-2016 season. As explained by Region 7 the journalist who broke the news, his compatriot Oleksandr Proshuta, died at night while he was sleeping as a result of a heart attack.
Otvertchenko arrived in Manresa accompanied by his compatriot, pivot Maksym Sandul. He was a shooting guard and was expected to repeat the performance of another Ukrainian, Serhii Gladyr, who had played for Manresa for three seasons previously. At the time of truth, he showed himself to be an irregular player, who played in 32 games, averaging 5.3 points and 3.6 rating, and a three-point shooting percentage of 34%, the most low in his career. Finally, the team led by Ibon Navarro achieved salvation on the last day in Vitoria, despite losing, due to the defeat of Estudiantes in Sant Sebastià. Otvertchenko did not play that match anymore, discarded from the call-up.
Apart from his performance, he left a mark in Manresa due to his good character. Of the two Ukrainians who arrived, he was the only one who spoke English and almost tutored his colleague Sandul. Neither followed after that summer. After. Otvertchenko returned to his country and played for Budivelnyk, Cherkasy, in two stages, and Prometey. He retired in 2021, aged just 31.
Proshuta, the journalist who broke the news, explained that “I’ve never had heart problems. I’m devastated because I was friends with some of my best friends, I kept in touch with them and played some games and everything.” For years, Proshuta has been one of the most recognized voices of European basketball on social networks and has maintained activity despite the fact that he has not left Kyiv, despite the war, and the conditions in which he has to live and work. From the Ukrainian capital, he is happy “that people remember him as a good person in such a difficult time”.
Both Baxi Manresa and Lliga Endesa have sent messages of condolence for the news.
