By Niki Bakouli/ bakouli@eurohoops.net
When VTB United League become a part of our lives (at 2008), the primary goal was to unite the cream of Eastern Europe’s and Northern Europe’s basketball clubs, together in one league. And that’s when Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia and Ukraine meet together, in a tournament. One year later (2010-2011), Finland, Poland and Belarus were added to the schedule, before this season, when representatives from Czech Republic and Kazakhstan also were added.
The success was immediate, but there was also something else that got in their attention: the psychical exhaustion of the those who at the same time had to play also for Euroleague and Eurocup. And that was the reason why few months ago, they all sat at the same table to discuss the possibility of a future merge of VTB United League and Russian Professional Basketball League.
If this project becomes a reality, you can understand why everybody can feel consistent with keeping their promises. First of all, Euroleague’s CEO, Jordi Bertomeu will not violate his promise for strong national leagues and second, the administration of VTB United League will take -through this road- their tickets for Euroleague and Eurocup -the eminent element for the real strength of any league.
Sergey Ivanov’s (president of VTB United League) statements, after the meeting with Euroleague (at 15th of April), when he said “we can say, there will not be a Russian regular season” proves the new reality! For now VTB is giving one ticket to Euroleague special qualifying round, as Ivanov said after the VTB Final Four: “For the present our agreement is oral. According to this agreement the Euroleague is ready to give the VTB United League οne ticket to a qualifying tournament. And, if the team will not be able to get in the Euroleague, it will participate in the European Cup. Thus, a guaranteed place to the European Cups will be drawn in the VTB United League. Moreover, in theory this place can get a team that will take in the next championship, for example, the sixth place – provided that CSKA, Zalgiris, Prokom and other clubs who have tickets to the Euroleague will be ahead”.