“We are happy to have ‘consecrated’ the new Krylatskoye parquet floor with gold medals” – MVP of Mayga Spartakiad

Basketball player of the Moscow national team and the MBA club Josselina Maiga who became the most valuable player of the All-Russian Spartakiad women’s tournament, emphasized in an interview with the special dedication of her team.

In the final, the Muscovites beat the team from the Sverdlovsk region, represented by UMMC – 74:54.

– Of course, I could have played better in the final. Score more goals, bounce more, defend better. It’s not my best game, but I’m happy for the team. Probably, I still brought an advantage: I pulled the opponent’s defense on me, we had opportunities for open throws.

We already know that you have no problem with self-criticism. But now, with a medal around your neck and an MVP award in your hand, you can probably relax and enjoy the win already?

– Yes, I’m very happy! A difficult tournament, for the first time there was so little time to prepare, I entered it after a long break – for me personally it was three months. The summer was tough: I was recovering from a few microtraumas from last season. And, unfortunately, in the second week of collection, I suffered damage again and recovered again. I literally played a friendly tournament – and immediately drove to Spartakiad. It was already flowing during the matches. Therefore, probably, she showed herself more in the second halves than in the first – she warmed up for a long time. Incredibly happy. At MBA, we have a crazy dedication and a great team spirit. Everyone was able to find their game in the final, which is why the gap is so big. And “+20” against a UMMC level opponent is a lot.

– Moscow’s path to the Spartakiad playoffs was the most difficult: in the ¼ finals – the Republic of Komi (Nika), in the ½ – the national champion Dynamo Kursk. Now the UMMC is also in the final…

– Yes! No easy game. And even the Omsk region, which was represented by the new Premier League club, showed excellent basketball. It was exciting to play with her. Cool girls, I wish them good luck in the club season. Now it will be interesting to participate in the Russian championship.

– How many steps is Moscow last place above what you expected?

– Of course, the plans were medals. I wanted to go to the final. But, as you said, it was very difficult. Two meetings with Kursk – in the group and in the semi-finals – one is more difficult than the other. Yes, maybe we did not think about gold, but we are very happy to have repeated success after our men’s team (previously, the Moscow team also won the Spartakiad men’s tournament – approx. ed.). Before the season, a new parquet floor was laid in our hall – so we have already “consecrated” it with two gold medals. So everything is very cool, and I hope it will bring new fans to Krylatskoe for our games,” Maiga said.