By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The list of participating teams of the 2021-22 VTB United League does not include Khimki Moscow Region due to the lack of funding, the league announced Monday after the Board meeting. This confirmed previous reports regarding the future of Khimki.
Twelve teams make out the 2021-22 field, while CSKA, UNICS, Zenit, and Lokomotiv Kuban will battle in the first-ever VTB Super Cup.
Per the press release: “Today, the VTB United League Board was held online in the TASS news agency press center. It was attended by the management of the League, representatives of the participating clubs and members of the federations of the playing countries.
The Board approved the list of the participants, the format and the rules of the 2021/22 championship.
12 clubs will play in the new VTB United League season: Avtodor (Russia), Astana (Kazakhstan), Enisey (Russia), Zielona Gora (Poland), Zenit (Russia), Kalev (Estonia), Lokomotiv-Kuban (Russia), Nizhny Novgorod (Russia), PARMA (Russia), UNICS (Russia), Tsmoki-Minsk (Belarus), CSKA (Russia).
In the upcoming season, a long–term participant of the tournament- Khimki (Moscow Region)-will not play due to the funding reduction.
Due to the results of the regular season, which starts at the end of September, the 8 best teams of the League will be determined. In the 2021/22 season, the champion will be determined in the playoffs in a series of up to 3 wins according to the 2-2-1 scheme.
Before the 2021/22 regular season start, a Super Cup will be held for the first time in the history of the VTB United League. The 4 best clubs according to the last season results will take part in it: CSKA, UNICS, Zenit and Lokomotiv-Kuban. The Super Cup will be held at the VTB Arena in Moscow on September 18-19.”