Played with guys on the street and became a pro. Alexei Baldin about basketball 3×3 and sports dream

Alexey Baldin and his partners in the youth team of Belarus in basketball 3×3 got into the project “35 heroes of the future”, organized by the National Olympic Committee. Athletes receive financial assistance for a year for food, participation in training camps and competitions. Alexei told Minsk-Novosti about his first steps in basketball and fijital tournaments.

It seems that without many years of training in sports school to achieve significant success in the career of an athlete. But this stereotype is broken by the player of the Belarusian youth basketball team 3×3 and the club “MINSK” A. Baldin.

- In his youth, he spent his free time on sports grounds, said Alexei. At the age of 12 or 13, I got basketball. The battles were held at the playground near the school and also near my home. There were many people of different ages. Most often played basketball 3 × 3, but sometimes - 5 × 5. In the cold season, we ran in the gym of school.

- In the summer, basketball fans head to Palova Arena. Were you there?

- My friends and I loved this place. They came to the opening, and in the evenings we had to be kicked out of there, because the work time of the object was over. They took water, sandwiches or went to the nearest store for scones. The memories of those days are positive. My parents knew exactly where I was and they were good at my passion.

- Every summer a series of Palova tournaments takes place in Minsk. Gathered your team on them?

- In the first year they entered the category of participants up to 15 years. However, the competition was prohibitive. Our rivals were children from sports schools, in addition to the same amateurs. We lost a lot, but we lost a lot. I wanted to prepare better for the next competition and get more victories. Then in Palova Arena I met the guys who were engaged with the teacher from the Center for additional education of children and youth “Victoria”. There was a chance to join them. About four years worked with this group, and then invited to the team “Ostrovets”.

- If I'm not mistaken, were there adult players?

- You could say it's a semi-professional squad. She went to international tournaments in Russia and played in Belarus. Training with these guys has become a good school. An important event happened in the summer of 2023. Before the II Games of the CIS countries, I was invited to the training camp of the Belarusian team. It was incredible to be among those who wanted to join. Our camp stretched for almost two months. The first time hard coped with the loads, however, involved. It’s nice that the other guys warmly received, shared experiences, prompted.

- Were they not included in that tournament?

- I was disappointed, but I knew the players were stronger. He attended all the matches of the domestic squads and cheered for ours. This motivated me to continue working even harder. Then I was called to the youth team of MINSKA in classical basketball. Accepted the invitation. Then more. There was a proposal to join the ranks of Shakhtar, which became the base for the national team 3×3.

- So you went to Soligorsk?

- Such offers in the career can no longer be received. Then the club gathered about ten players, and led by honored coach of Russia Vladimir Aghababyan. By the way, he made the Russian national basketball team 3×3 silver medalist of the Olympics in Tokyo. The first year at Shakhtar was not easy – a lot of new information, a high level of physical fitness. But it was interesting. We won at the Palova stages, went to tournaments in Russia. In the second year of the club’s existence, a couple of young guys were attracted to it and, in addition to the main one, they formed a youth composition.

- And yet Shakhtar ceased to exist..

- When this news came out, we were very upset. Until the last, they believed that everything would change. But alas. I joined MINSK. I decided to focus on the 3×3 version. In it, players are universal. Yes, high can better put a barrier or pick up the rebound, and low - play the combination, make a long throw. However, there is interchangeability. With a height of 190 cm, I am able to make a dunk - in a jump, stick a ball into a ring with my hand.

- Do you remember the first time this trick happened?

- 15-16 years old in training. Then I tried games. But in our form, they rarely resort to this method of scoring points. We have a much higher level of contact than classic basketball. In addition, it is harder to run away from the opponent - a small playground. Dunk is an energy-intensive device. I'd rather score easier - from the shield, saving power. After all, it happens that we play 5-6 matches per day.

I saw you play fijital basketball. How interesting is this direction?

- I like it. First, your team fights an opponent on the console, and then on the real court. It is advisable to have good skills in both types. My parents gave me an Xbox 360. Sometimes with friends after matches on the street came to me and continued to fight on the console. In 2025, our MINSK team did not qualify for international fijital basketball competitions. This year, they have successfully qualified. What's my dream? Go to the Olympics and give it your maximum.

At the international multisport tournament "Games of the Future 2026" in fijital basketball, A. Baldin as part of the MINSK team reached the quarterfinals.

Photo from the interlocutor's archive