By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Executives from Euroleague, clubs and national leagues met in Barcelona, where they officially approved a plan for distributing spots in Euroleague and Eurocup over the next four seasons.
According to this agreement, the VTB United League, German and Adriatic leagues, as well as the owner of a special wild card (beginning with the 2017-18 season, the Spanish league will receive a B Licence in place of this wild card) will receive one B Licence to Euroleague. Those four leagues, including the VTB United League, will also receive at least three spots in Eurocup over the next four seasons.
The VTB United League delegation played an active role in the meeting in Barcelona, represented by general director Andrey Shirokov, deputy general director Ilona Korstin and official league representative to Euroleague, FIBA and other international organizations Jiri Zidek. Specifically, the VTB United League initiated discussion of making a change to the Euroleague regulations, concerning a spot in Euroleague for the Eurocup champion.
“The most important result of the meeting in Barcelona for the VTB United League is the official formalizing of our agreement with Euroleague concerning a guaranteed B Licence, which, by the way, we will receive for the next four seasons, not three, as had been planned”, VTB United League general director Andrey Shirokov told VTB-League.com. “Another important result for us is that there was discussion of what will happen if one team earns a spot in Euroleague both in its national league and by winning Eurocup. Per the current regulations, the Eurocup spot becomes a wild card. Based on the wishes of our clubs, we raised the question of whether the spot could go to the league whose team won Eurocup. Practically all the leagues actively supported us in this. As a result, this issue will raised at the next Euroleague assembly. Judging by the active support and disposition of other leagues, there’s a very good chance of a positive decision. In that event, if a Russian club wins Eurocup, the VTB United League will receive three guaranteed spots in Euroleague, in addition to CSKA’s A Licence and one B Licence”.