VTB United League explained

VTB United League
Pixels:200
Country:Russia
Other Countries:Belarus
Kazakhstan
Confed:FIBA Europe
FIBA Asia
First:2009–10
Teams:14
Levels:1
Domest Cup:Russian Cup
Confed Cup:EuroLeague (suspended)
EuroCup (suspended)
Champions League (suspended)
Europe Cup (suspended)
West Asia Super League
Champions:CSKA Moscow (11th title)
Most Champs:CSKA Moscow (11 titles)
Current:2023–24

The VTB United League (Russian: Единая Лига ВТБ) is an international professional men's club basketball league that was founded in 2009. It is made up of mostly Russian clubs, along with one each from Belarus and Kazakhstan. Since 2013, it is the first tier of Russian professional club basketball. Therefore, the highest placed Russian team in the league can also be named the Russian national champions. The league is sponsored by Russian state-owned VTB Bank. In 2009 CSKA Moscow won VTB United League Promo-Cup, but this competition does not count as official VTB title. CSKA has dominated the league, having won majority of titles its existence. The VTB United League also holds a youth competition, the VTB United Youth League.

History

The first step in the creation of the league was a competition named the VTB United League Promo-Cup held in Moscow in December 2009.[1] The final of the Promo-Cup was played on December 22, 2009, and was won by CSKA Moscow, who defeated Khimki 70–66. Kyiv ended third.[2]

Unification with the Russian PBL

In May 2012, all the PBL clubs gathered to decide which format would be used for the next season, and some club's directors raised the possibility of uniting with the VTB United League, to produce greater competition between the Russian basketball clubs. They suggested that the new league be named the Eastern European Professional Basketball League.[3] [4] [5]

In July 2012, the Council of VTB United League decided that the PBL league would continue for one more year, with some games of the VTB United League that took place between two Russian clubs being counted as PBL games.[6] The first tier Russian clubs then replaced the PBL with the VTB United League as their new national domestic league, starting with the 2013-14 season.

The VTB United League was recognized by FIBA Europe in September 2013.[7] [8] The league was then officially recognized by FIBA World in October 2014. The league needed to be recognized by both bodies, because it contains clubs that come from countries that are part of both the European and Asian FIBA zones.

The honorary head of the league is Sergei Ivanov and its official sponsor is Pavel Vrublevsky of ChronoPay.[9] [10] [11]

Formats

In its inaugural 2009–10 season, the VTB United League featured clubs from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, and Ukraine. For the 2010–11 season, teams from Belarus, Finland, and Poland were added to the league. The 2011–12 season featured 18 teams, with new teams being added from the Czech Republic and Kazakhstan.[12] In the 2012–13 season, the number of teams increased to 20. The number of teams decreased to 16 for the 2014–15 season, and the teams from Lithuania and Ukraine dropped out of the league.

During the 2021–22 season, ten teams were left to compete after the Polish and Estonian clubs withdrew from the league in protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[13]

Arena rules

In order for clubs to play in the VTB United League, they must have a home arena that has a seating capacity of at least 3,000 seats.[14]

Team appearances

Team2008
(8)
09–10
(8)
10–11
(12)
11–12
(18)
12–13
(20)
13–14
(20)
14–15
(16)
15–16
(16)
16–17
(13)
17–18
(13)
18–19
(14)
19–20
(13)
20–21
(13)
21–22
(12)
22–23
(12)
Tsmoki-MinskGS GS GS GS 14th12th12th9th14th(13th)13th9th 12th
NymburkGS GS GS 15thQF
Kalev/CramoGS GS GS GS 9th14th11th12thQF(8th)10thRet
Bisons Loimaa13th13th
Espoon HonkaGS
Torpan PojatQR
VITA Tbilisi16th
Astana1/8 1/8 QF 15thQF 10thQF(9th)12th10th 11th
7th
VEF RīgaGS GS QF GS GS 11thQF QF10th
Lietuvos rytasGS 3rd GS SF
NeptūnasGS GS
ŠiauliaiQR
Žalgiris5th 3rd 1/8 1/8 3rd
AnwilQR
Prokom8th GS GS
TurówGS GS
Zielona Góra12th(7th)QF Ret
AvtodorQF QF 10thQF 11th(12th)9thQF QF
CSKAbgcolor=gold1st bgcolor=gold1st bgcolor=silver2nd bgcolor=gold1st bgcolor=gold1st bgcolor=gold1st bgcolor=gold1st bgcolor=gold1st bgcolor=gold1st bgcolor=gold1st bgcolor=gold1st (2nd) bgcolor=gold1st bgcolor=silver2nd 3rd
Dynamo4th
EniseyGS GS 1/8 11th10thQF 13th9th(11th)11thQF 9th
Khimkibgcolor=silver2nd 4th bgcolor=gold1st QF 4th QF bgcolor=silver2nd SF bgcolor=silver2nd bgcolor=silver2nd bgcolor=silver2nd (1st) QF
Krasny Oktyabr1/8 12th9th
Krasnye KryliaGS QF QF 16th
Lokomotiv Kuban4th bgcolor=silver2nd QF SF QF 4thbgcolor=cc9966SF QF QF (3rd) SF 4th bgcolor=silver2nd
Nizhny Novgorod1/8 QF bgcolor=silver2nd SF QF 9thQF QF (10th) QF QF QF
Parma13th11th13th(5th)QFQF QF
SpartakQF 1/8 1/8
Triumph1/8 QF
UNICSbgcolor=silver2nd 3rd bgcolor=silver2nd QF SF QF bgcolor=silver2nd QF 4th SF (4th) bgcolor=silver2nd 3rd bgcolor=gold1st
ZenitQF SF SF 3rd SF (6th) SF bgcolor=gold1st bgcolor=silver2nd
Azovmash6th GS 4th GS GS GS
BudivelnykGS
DniproGS QR
DonetskGS 1/8 GS
Kyiv3rd

Results

The whole 2008 tournament was staged in Moscow, including the Final Four.2008 tournament does not count as official VTB title.

Titles by club

ClubChampionsRunners-upWinning years
11 2 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2024
1 4 2011
1 5 2023
1 0 2022
0 2
0 1

Abroad competitions

See main article: article and Russian basketball clubs in European and worldwide competitions.

Major awards

Awards by nationality

Statistical awards

Records

See main article: article and VTB United League records.

Sponsorship

Andrey Kostin's VTB Bank has been a long-term league sponsor. However, it recorded losses of connected to other sponsorships (FC Dynamo Moscow and HC Dynamo Moscow) and contributions to charities. This led to the Bank of Moscow joining as main sponsor.[15]

Predecessor leagues

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: About League . vtb-league.com . 2009-10-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091019093033/http://vtb-league.com/en/about/default.aspx . 2009-10-19 . dead .
  2. Web site: PROMO-CUP: CSKA WIN . Sport Express . 2009-10-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110719090424/http://english.sport-express.ru/news/13_3055/ . 2011-07-19 . dead .
  3. http://www.vtb-league.com/en/news/20-clubs-will-play-in-vtb-united-league-championship-in-seasone-201213.htm 20 clubs will play in VTB United League championship in seasone-2012/13
  4. Web site: PBL looks to a better future . 30 January 2012 . . 4 February 2012.
  5. http://www.vtb-league.com/en/news/the-russian-triumph-applied-an-application-to-participate-in-the-new-season-of-vtb-united-league.htm Triumph applied an application to participate in the new season of VTB United League
  6. Web site: BEKO PBL Press service. BEKO PBL Board suggests scheme of 2012/2013 season. pbleague.ru. 26 August 2012.
  7. http://www.fibaeurope.com/cid_s-UpOfA-I7ki4E0Tw3qmM3.coid_vjEo3ZmGHdMtvWacb2OKL0.articleMode_on.html VTB League Officially Recognised.
  8. Web site: FIBA Europe officially recognizes VTB United League. . 2014-10-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141012150236/http://www.vtb-league.com/en/news/fiba-europe-officially-recognizes-vtb-united-league.htm . 2014-10-12 . dead .
  9. News: Михайлов . Сергей (Mikhailov, Sergey) . Схемщик нашел прибежище: Что ищет в России Беглый Украинский ехс-депутат Шепелев . The schemer found refuge: What the runaway Ukrainian ex-duputy Shepelev seeks in Russia . ru . «Соверше́нно секре́тно» ("Top secret") . 9 June 2015 . 25 January 2021 . 19 August 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160819172845/http://www.sovsekretno.ru/articles/id/4834/.
  10. News: Михайлов . Сергей (Mikhailov, Sergey) . Схемщик нашел прибежище: Что ищет в России беглый Украинский экс-депутат Шепелев . The schemer has taken refuge: What the fugitive Ukrainian ex-deputy Shepelev is looking for in Russia . ru . «Соверше́нно секре́тно» ("Top secret") . 9 June 2015 . 25 January 2021 . 9 September 2015 . http://www.compromat.ru/page_35766.htm.
  11. News: Врублевский: ЕЛ ВТБ — это возрождение баскетбола в России . Vrublevsky: EL VTB is the revival of basketball in Russia . ru . . 29 April 2011 . 25 January 2021.
  12. Web site: New clubs in the VTB United League . 28 March 2011 . VTB United League . 28 March 2011.
  13. Web site: Zielona Gora joins Kalev/Cramo in departing the VTB United League. eurohoops.net. 25 February 2022. 25 February 2022.
  14. Web site: Krasnye Krylia not to compete in VTB United League next season. . 2015-07-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150721152030/http://www.vtb-league.com/en/news/krasnye-krylia-not-to-compete-in-vtb-united-league-next-season.htm . 2015-07-21 . dead .
  15. News: Воронова . Татьяна (Voronova, Tatiana) . Еремина . Анна (Eremina, Anna) . Казакулова . Галина (Kazakulova, Galina) . Убытки – не помеха для благотворительности ВТБ: В I квартале 2015 года госбанк получил 5 млрд рублей убытка и при этом 15,5 млрд рублей потратил на благотворительность . Losses are not a hindrance to VTB's charity: In the first quarter of 2015, the state bank received 5 billion rubles in losses and at the same time spent 15.5 billion rubles on charity . ru . . 16 April 2015 . 25 January 2021.