Moscow’s Timiryazevskaya sports school celebrated its 70th birthday in style. The school currently has several graduates in the VTB United League, including Dmitry and Mikhail Kulagin (CSKA), Valery Likhodei, and Ruslan Pateev (Khimki).
There were plenty of dignitaries at the celebration: RBF president Andrei Kirilenko and general secretary Natalia Galkina, VTB United League general director Ilona Korstin, FBM president Viktor Dvurechenskikh, vice-presidents Alexander Novozhilov and Evgeny Gomelsky.
One more FBM vice-president, Dmitry Yashchenko, served as host. The Timiryazevskaya director noted with pride that the school has always managed to preserve its historic name and trademark yellow-green colors over the decades.
After the official ceremonies, which included awards and honorary diplomas, the attention turned to the basketball court. Organizers put on a holiday game between graduates of the Timiryazevskaya school (yellow) and friends of the school (green). Olympic champions Elena Baranova and Irina Sumnikova, two-time bronze medalist Ilona Korstin, FBM vice-president Alexander Novozhilov, Khimki general director Pavel Astakhov, head men’s and women’s coaches at FMB’s MBA club, Alexander Afanasyev and Alexander Duratsyan, club general manager Igor Kocharyan. Fittingly, everyone on the court wore the number 70.
The refereeing team was also in fine form. Boasting the legendary Mikhail Davydov, the crew also included FBM officiating chief Sergei Mikhailov and Evgeny Ostrovsky, who abruptly put on a yellow uniform during the game.
The game ended in a 42-42 tie, before youngster Petr Novozhilov enjoyed a game-winning dunk with the help of Timiryazevskaya coach Vladimir Feryabnikov. The scoreboard lit up 70-70, one more nod to the school’s longevity.
League general director Ilona Korstin:
– Congratulations to Timiryazevskaya sports school on the milestone. 70 years is a solid accomplishment. I hope the project continues to thrive and produce students that sparkle on the international stage. There are several talented players in the VTB League right now from the Timiryazevskaya school. For example, Dmitry and Mikhail Kulagin had big games for CSKA yesterday against Milan in the Euroleague, and showed up today to the celebration. The VTB United League is the top of the Russian basketball pyramid, but everything starts with kids and youth basketball. We are trying to do everything we can to support and popularize these projects: from school basketball to collegiate basketball to the VTB Youth League, the final step before the pros. It’s really great when the educational basketball pyramid works. We can see the results of the Timiryazevskaya school. Many graduates play at a high level and serve as an example for the kids that are just getting started in the sport.
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