The 3×3 international basketball tournament in Russia has highlighted the address of the Malagasy players. They bowed on the tight score of 19-21 in the final.
| The four members of the Antananarivo team during the Russian international tournament. |
The international 3×3 basketball meeting of Perm ended on Sunday with a vice-champion title for the representatives of the Big Island who evolve under the name of Antananarivo. This tournament, disputed over two days, on August 30 and 31, highlighted the know-how of the four members of the national team. But the result leaves a taste of unfinished, because Antananarivo tilted narrowly in the final by 19-21.
The four Malagasy representatives-Livio Ratianarivo, Elly Randriamampionona, Arnol Alpha Solondrainy and Anthony Rasolomanana-once again worn the colors of Madagascar, during this meeting. They have chained high level performance.
The adventure started with a solid victory against BC 10 Moscow (17-14) during the first meeting played on Friday. A defeat of a breath against Bionord Pro Perm (20-21), the night of Friday, did not start morale of the troops.
In the quarter-finals, the Malagasy delivered a masterful performance by dominating the powerful formation of Slovenia Ljubljana on the net score of 21-12. A victory that positioned the players of Antananarivo as serious contenders in the title.
In the semi-finals, they confirmed their regularity and their fighting spirit by winning 21-19 against the Russians of the Alfarot Team, thus offering an international final at this level.
Confirmation of the Malagasy potential
Faced with Kourchatov, the last duel held all its promises: intensity, suspense and show were there. Led by a Livio Ratianarivo, inspired and designated the best player in the tournament, the Malagasy stood up to their opponents to the end, bowing only on the wire (19-21).
This second place, obtained in front of seasoned teams in the 3X3 circuit, marks a significant step in the ascent of Malagasy basketball in this discipline. African African champions, the Malagasy confirm their status and prove that Madagascar has its place in the world elite of the 3×3.
Antananarivo’s performance testifies to the growing maturity of Malagasy basketball players, capable of facing the best world teams. A united collective, a formidable defensive intensity and a destabilizing offensive creativity are the advantages of the band at Livio Ratianarivo.
This Russian experience is also a precious springboard for the next deadline: the African 3X3 basketball championships, which Madagascar will welcome for the second time in Antananarivo, in December. Even by bowing to Perm, Malagasy basketball players could have a promising taste of what their future could be on the world stage of the 3×3.
Donné Raherinjatovo
