Chronicle

Tulitsa buys European champions

The leaders of the women's volleyball club "Tulitsa", which was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs of the Russian championship, are thinking about the next season. According to Polish media reports, Tulica has already entered into an agreement with two 2005 European champions, Małgorzata Hlinka and Joanna Mirek. The first in 2003 was recognized as the best volleyball player in the Old World, and at the autumn championship of the continent in Croatia she became the most productive in the Polish national team. Glinka and Mirek will replace their compatriots Agata Karczmarzewska and Małgorzata Niemczyk-Wolska in Tulica. Polish publications also report that the total amount of two contracts for newcomers to the Tula team is 440 thousand euros. The words of an agent of volleyball players are also quoted, who believes that teams from Russia are now ready to pay players 1.5 times more than Italian clubs, and 2.5 times more than Polish ones. Ilya TRISVIATSKY

The Spanish club “Taugres” from the Basque city of Vitoria, like a year ago, reached the “Final Four” of the ULEB Euroleague and became the second member of the quartet of the strongest teams in the main continental tournament. “Taugres” won the third match of the quarterfinal series up to two victories away from the Greek “Panathinaikos” - 74:71. The participants in this match showed basketball of the highest class, quite worthy of the decisive match for the Euroleague trophy. The Taugres players did not flinch when they found themselves under the pressure of 18 thousand Athenian fans, who gave Pao crazy support. Few people can beat a Greek club in such a situation. But the Basque club once again proved that other people’s walls do not put pressure on it. Suffice it to recall last year’s semi-final of the tournament, when Taugres sensationally defeated the main favorite CSKA at the capital’s Olimpiysky sports complex.

In Athens, the visitors started with an 8:0 spurt, after which the hosts' head coach Zeljko Obradovic took the first timeout. The basketball players from Vitoria maintained a seven-point advantage by the first short break, but later “Pao” seized the initiative and before the final quarter led with a minimal advantage - 53:52. The last minute of the game was dramatic. Thanks to Lakovic's long-range hit, "Pao" reduced its gap to a minimum - 69:70; the visitors responded with an accurate throw from Prigioni. Then there was an exchange of free throws, and in the final attack Alvertis could have sent the game into overtime, but missed a three-point shot, although before that he had been accurate four times from the arc. Despite the fact that Luis Scola scored only three points as part of the winners, he can be called one of the best players of the meeting - the Olympic champion of Athens had 11 rebounds, the same number as the Hungarian Tau legionnaire Cornel David.

The third matches in the Barcelona-Real Madrid and Maccabi-Olympiacos series ended late yesterday evening Moscow time. Ilya TRISVIATSKY

Hockey. NHL. Regular season . "Buffalo" -- "Montreal" -- 3:1 -- Afinogenov "B" (0+2), "Vancouver" -- "San Jose" -- 4:5 OT.

Last day, only two matches were played in the NHL regular season. Buffalo, which hosted Montreal, defeated the Canadians with a score of 3:1. Already in the first period, the hosts created a reserve of two goals, and both goals were scored thanks to the assists of ex-Dynamo player Maxim Afinogenov. Mad Max, as the hockey player is called overseas, is having his best season in the NHL. The Buffalo forward has already scored 69 points (21+48) in 74 matches. For comparison: Afinogenov’s previous record was 40 points in the 2001/02 championship.

In the second match of the day, San Jose defeated Vancouver, and with this victory secured a place in the playoffs. Olesya KOMAROVA

Basketball. NBA. Regular season. "Indiana" - "Boston" - 117:112, "Atlanta" - "Chicago" - 90:96, "Orlando" - "Toronto" - 103:96, "New Jersey" - " Philadelphia - 96:116, Charlotte - Memphis - 88:96, Detroit - Cleveland - 96:73, Milwaukee - Washington - 100:97, “New Orleans” – “Seattle” – 104:99, “Houston” – “Minnesota” – 79:82, “Utah” – “Denver” – 104:83, “Golden State” – “Dallas” – 114:102, “Clippers” – “Portland” – 97:93.

Russian basketball players playing in the NBA, Andrei Kirilenko and Viktor Khryapa, can count their past matches as an asset. Kirilenko played for Utah in the game against Denver for 40 minutes and scored 14 points with seven assists. His compatriot Khryapa, who plays for Portland, recorded 14 points, four assists and six rebounds in 36 minutes of playing time. However, if Kirilenko’s “jazzmen” still have a ghostly chance of reaching the playoffs, then Khryapa’s team is frankly finishing out this season, being a clear outsider in the Western Conference. Olesya KOMAROVA

Vladislav Tretyak will most likely head the Russian Hockey Federation. According to Interfax, his candidacy will be included in the list for the upcoming extraordinary meeting of the FHR, which will take place on April 25 and will consider personnel issues. Previously, Tretyak denied rumors about his possible presidency. However, after a series of approvals, it was decided that he would nominate his candidacy for the post of head of the FHR.

The other day, the Governor General of Canada, Michaëlle Jean, announced that Tretyak was awarded the medal “For Special Merit.” This award was established in 1984 and recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to Canada over a short period of time (from five minutes to five years). State Duma deputy Vladislav Tretyak will receive a medal for founding the Friends of Canada parliamentary group. The award will be presented to him at his official residence, Rideau Hall in Ottawa. The famous Russian goalkeeper will be one of 14 winners of this prestigious medal. Olesya KOMAROVA