VTB United League

VTB United League
Founded2009; 15 years ago (2009)
First season2009–10
CountryRussia
Other club(s) fromKazakhstan
ConfederationFIBA Europe
FIBA Asia
Number of teams12
Level on pyramid1
Domestic cup(s)Russian Cup
SupercupVTB League Supercup
International cup(s)EuroLeague (suspended)
EuroCup (suspended)
Champions League (suspended)
Europe Cup (suspended)
West Asia Super League
Current championsCSKA Moscow (11th title)
Most championshipsCSKA Moscow (11 titles)
Websitevtb-league.com
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.[citation needed] 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

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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

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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.[citation needed]

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.[citation needed]

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

Formats

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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

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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

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Team 2008
(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)
Belarus Tsmoki-Minsk GS GS GS GS 14th 12th 12th 9th 14th (13th) 13th 9th 12th
Czech Republic Nymburk GS GS GS 15th QF
Estonia Kalev/Cramo GS GS GS GS 9th 14th 11th 12th QF (8th) 10th Ret
Finland Bisons Loimaa 13th 13th
Finland Espoon Honka GS
Finland Torpan Pojat QR
Georgia (country) VITA Tbilisi 16th
Kazakhstan Astana 1/8 1/8 QF 15th QF 10th QF (9th) 12th 10th 11th
Latvia ASK Rīga 7th
Latvia VEF Rīga GS GS QF GS GS 11th QF QF 10th
Lithuania Lietuvos rytas GS 3rd GS SF
Lithuania Neptūnas GS GS
Lithuania Šiauliai QR
Lithuania Žalgiris 5th 3rd 1/8 1/8 3rd
Poland Anwil QR
Poland Prokom 8th GS GS
Poland Turów GS GS
Poland Zielona Góra 12th (7th) QF Ret
Russia Avtodor QF QF 10th QF 11th (12th) 9th QF QF
Russia CSKA 1st 1st 2nd 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st (2nd) 1st 2nd 3rd
Russia Dynamo 4th
Russia Enisey GS GS 1/8 11th 10th QF 13th 9th (11th) 11th QF 9th
Russia Khimki 2nd 4th 1st QF 4th QF 2nd SF 2nd 2nd 2nd (1st) QF
Russia Krasny Oktyabr 1/8 12th 9th
Russia Krasnye Krylia GS QF QF 16th
Russia Lokomotiv Kuban 4th 2nd QF SF QF SF QF QF (3rd) SF 4th 2nd
Russia Nizhny Novgorod 1/8 QF 2nd SF QF 9th QF QF (10th) QF QF QF
Russia Parma 13th 11th 13th (5th) QF QF QF
Russia Spartak QF 1/8 1/8
Russia Triumph 1/8 QF
Russia UNICS 2nd 3rd 2nd QF SF QF 2nd QF 4th SF (4th) 2nd 3rd 1st
Russia Zenit QF SF SF 3rd SF (6th) SF 1st 2nd
Ukraine Azovmash 6th GS 4th GS GS GS
Ukraine Budivelnyk GS
Ukraine Dnipro GS QR
Ukraine Donetsk GS 1/8 GS
Ukraine Kyiv 3rd

Results

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Key to colors
     VTB United League Promo-Cup
Season Finals & Final four hosts Finals Third Place Playoff
Gold Score Silver Bronze Score Fourth place
2008
Details
 Russia
(USK CSKA, Moscow)

CSKA Moscow
70–66
Khimki

Kyiv
86–73
Dynamo Moscow
2009–10
Details
 Lithuania
(Sports Hall, Kaunas)

CSKA Moscow
66–55
UNICS

Žalgiris
78–72
Khimki
2010–11
Details
 Russia
(Basket Hall, Kazan)

Khimki
66–64
CSKA Moscow

UNICS
95–75
Azovmash
2011–12
Details
 Lithuania
(Siemens Arena, Vilnius)

CSKA Moscow
74–62
UNICS

Lietuvos rytas
91–83
Lokomotiv Kuban
2012–13
Details
In home and away venues
CSKA Moscow
3–1
Series

Lokomotiv Kuban

Žalgiris
Did not play
Khimki
2013–14
Details
In home and away venues
CSKA Moscow
3–0
Series

Nizhny Novgorod

UNICS
Did not play
Lietuvos rytas
2014–15
Details
In home and away venues
CSKA Moscow
3–0
Series

Khimki

Lokomotiv Kuban
Did not play
Nizhny Novgorod
2015–16
Details
In home and away venues
CSKA Moscow
3–1
Series

UNICS

Zenit Saint Petersburg
Did not play
Khimki
2016–17
Details
In home and away venues
CSKA Moscow
3–0
Series

Khimki

Zenit Saint Petersburg
Did not play
Lokomotiv Kuban
2017–18
Details
 Russia
(VTB Ice Palace, Moscow)

CSKA Moscow
95–84
Khimki

Zenit Saint Petersburg
93–79
UNICS
2018–19
Details
In home and away venues
CSKA Moscow
3–0
Series

Khimki

UNICS
Did not play
Zenit Saint Petersburg
2019–20
Details
Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic - no champion announced.
2020–21
Details
In home and away venues
CSKA Moscow
3–0
Series

UNICS

Lokomotiv Kuban
Did not play
Zenit Saint Petersburg
2021–22
Details
In home and away venues
Zenit Saint Petersburg
4–3
Series

CSKA Moscow

UNICS
3–1
Series

Lokomotiv Kuban
2022–23
Details
In home and away venues
UNICS
4–1
Series

Lokomotiv Kuban

CSKA Moscow
4–1
Series

Zenit Saint Petersburg
2023–24 In home and away venues
CSKA Moscow
4–1
Series

UNICS

Zenit Saint Petersburg
3–1
Series

Lokomotiv Kuban
^† The whole 2008 tournament was staged in Moscow, including the Final Four.

2008 tournament does not count as official VTB title.

Titles by club

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Club Champions Runners-up Winning years
CSKA Moscow 11 2 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2024
Khimki 1 4 2011
UNICS 1 5 2023
Zenit Saint Petersburg 1 0 2022
Lokomotiv Kuban 0 2
Nizhny Novgorod 0 1

Abroad competitions

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Major awards

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Awards by nationality

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Statistical awards

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Records

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Sponsorship

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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

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "About League". vtb-league.com. Archived from the original on 2009-10-19. Retrieved 2009-10-15.
  2. ^ "PROMO-CUP: CSKA WIN". Sport Express. Archived from the original on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2009-10-24.
  3. ^ 20 clubs will play in VTB United League championship in seasone-2012/13 Archived 2012-06-09 at the Wayback Machine, vtb-league.com, May 20, 2012
  4. ^ "PBL looks to a better future". ULEB. 30 January 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  5. ^ Triumph applied an application to participate in the new season of VTB United League Archived 2013-10-14 at the Wayback Machine, May 20, 2012, vtb-league.com
  6. ^ BEKO PBL Press service. "BEKO PBL Board suggests scheme of 2012/2013 season". pbleague.ru. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  7. ^ VTB League Officially Recognised.
  8. ^ "FIBA Europe officially recognizes VTB United League". Archived from the original on 2014-10-12. Retrieved 2014-10-07.
  9. ^ Михайлов, Сергей (Mikhailov, Sergey) (9 June 2015). "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]. «Соверше́нно секре́тно» ("Top secret") (in Russian). Archived from the original on 19 August 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ Михайлов, Сергей (Mikhailov, Sergey) (9 June 2015). "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]. «Соверше́нно секре́тно» ("Top secret") (in Russian). Archived from the original on 9 September 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ "Врублевский: ЕЛ ВТБ — это возрождение баскетбола в России" [Vrublevsky: EL VTB is the revival of basketball in Russia]. championat.com (in Russian). 29 April 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  12. ^ "New clubs in the VTB United League". VTB United League. 28 March 2011. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
  13. ^ "Zielona Gora joins Kalev/Cramo in departing the VTB United League". eurohoops.net. 25 February 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  14. ^ "Krasnye Krylia not to compete in VTB United League next season". Archived from the original on 2015-07-21. Retrieved 2015-07-21.
  15. ^ Воронова, Татьяна (Voronova, Tatiana); Еремина, Анна (Eremina, Anna); Казакулова, Галина (Kazakulova, Galina) (16 April 2015). "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]. Vedomosti (in Russian). Retrieved 25 January 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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