Therefore, the Board of the Company approved the extension of the format of the competition and the increased number of participants to 16 teams. It is expected that during the preliminary phase, participants were divided into two groups and conduct a tournament of two all year. The winners of each group will go directly to the Final Four, and two tickets to the final round will be played in the playoffs (in 1 / 8 and 1 / 4 final two wins) between computers that have 2 to 4 th place in group.
"Spartak" and "Lokomotiv" Kuban "- is one of the top clubs in Russia, who managed to participate in the championship of Russia on the international scene (the last week the two Final Four teams in the FIBA Cup Challenge).
New United League club VTB
VTB-league.com
March 29, 2011
At the meeting of the board of the League of Moscow, it was decided to include in the composition of the United League VTB four new clubs. Season-2011/12 in the Russian Federation "Lokomotiv-Kuban (Krasnodar)," Spartak "(St. Petersburg), the Czech Republic" Nymburk and British Columbia Astana "from Kazakhstan will participate in the tournament.
League and Council approved the expansion of the format of the competition and increase the number of participants to 16 teams. It is expected that during the initial phase, participants will be divided into two groups and finish a 2-round tournament. The group winners will go directly to "Final Four" and the other two tickets for the decisive round will be played in the playoffs (in 1 / 8 and 1 / 4 finals at two victories) between the teams, which takes 2-4 - e places in their groups.
"Spartak" and "Lokomotiv-Kuban" - is one of the leading clubs in Russia, which successfully participated in the Russian League and international level (for both teams last week, four Challenge Cup finals FIBA).
"Nymburk - the first Czech basketball club (Standing national champion for the past seven years) and regularly participates in European Cup tournaments. This season, the team also participates in the Adriatic League as well.
"Astana", unlike other newcomers VTB United League is not as widely known among fans and industry professionals. But the club's strongest Kazakhstan in the new season substantially increased the budget and invited a local famous basketball player, Olympic champion in Seoul Valery Tikhonenko-88 as CEO.
The Director-General Andrey Vedishchev club:
- We are pleased to participate in United VTB League. It is a very prestigious tournament and difficult. This season, six teams of the Euroleague participating in the league, and it says on the level of the League itself. Geography of the competition is too great - there is no analogues VTB United League in the post-Soviet region.
AC Spartak (St. Petersburg)
Founded: 1935
Colors: white, red
Home Arena: Yubileiny SC "(7500 spectators)
Accomplishments: 1975 Champion of the USSR. CIS Champion 1992. Cup winner of the USSR, 1978, 1987. Cup Winners Cup Winners 1973, 1975. Champion silver medalist of the USSR 1970, 1971, 1972. 1973, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1991. Championship silver medalist Russia in 1993. The bronze medalist of the USSR Champion 1969, 1981, 1985, 1986, 1987. Winner of the Cup of Russia 2011.
President: Igor Lipsky
Head Coach: Zvi Scherff
Comment by club president Igor Lipsky:
- We are very pleased to join the United VTB League. I am very happy that today the Council of the League voted unanimously to join Spartak of the 16 teams in the championship. The League has many advantages and one of them - no TV games.
- We are very pleased to join the United VTB League. Our club has slowly built itself a good quality of the teams in the region through participation in the Eurocup, and if last year in the Adriatic League. We have enjoyed and benefited from participating in the Adriatic League last season, but the costs are related to departure were too high. VTB United League five Euroleague teams, probably provide even better quality of sport and, more importantly, covers most of the costs of the club '. It 'difficult to translate this into account its exact position in the championship at the end of VTB great season next year, but certainly we will do our best to get in the playoffs.
The Director-General Valery Tikhonenko Club:
- The fact that the "Astana" VTB joined the United League - is a huge step forward for the entire basketball Kazakhstan and we are doing everything seems worthy against other teams and the union successfully represented our country in international fora Russia and Kazakhstan Countries have always been friends, and participation in "Astana .. "VTB United in the League - is a perfect example of a good relationship.
The Director-General Andrey Vedishchev club:
- We are pleased to join the United VTB League. This is a very prestigious tournament and continually evolving. This season, the six teams participating in the NBA and he says high-League thereof. Geography Competition is also good - there is no similar area of the United VTB League post-Soviet era.