Qualifying games for the 2019 World Cup and pre-qualifying games for continental championships will be held from February 21-25. 53 VTB United League players have been selected by their national teams.
2019 World Cup qualifying
14 League representatives made Russia’s extended list: Evgeny Baburin (Nizhny Novgorod), Dmitry Kulagin (Lokomotiv-Kuban), Alexander Platunov (PARMA), Ivan Strebkov (Nizhny Novgorod), Vitaly Fridzon (Lokomotiv-Kuban), Dmitry Khvostov (Lokomotiv-Kuban), Alexander Khomenko, Andrey Vorontsevich (CSKA), Petr Gubanov (Khimki), Stanislav Ilnitsky (Lokomotiv-Kuban), Nikita Mikhailovsky (Avtodor), Artem Zabelin (Avtodor), Vladimir Ivlev (Lokomotiv-Kuban), Artem Klimenko (UNICS). The Russian national team plays Bulgaria on the road (February 21) and Finland at home (February 24).
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Nine players will join Kazakhstan’s national team: Anthony Clemmons, Nikolai Bazhin, Vadim Shcherbak, Rustam Murzagaliev, Rustam Yergali, Alexander Zhigulin, Askar Maidekin, Dmitry Gavrilov, Maxim Marchuk (Astana). The Kazakhs will host Australia (February 21) and the Philippines (February 24).
Latvia goes up against Spain (February 22) and Montenegro (February 25) with help from Arturs Ausejs, Artis Ate, Marek Mejeris (VEF), Martins Meiers (Enisey) and Janis Blums (PARMA).
Poland is also represented by several League players. Lukasz Koszarek, Michal Sokolowski, Adam Hrycaniuk (ZIelona Gora) and Mateusz Ponitka (Lokomotiv-Kuban) are on the roster for games vs. Croatia (February 22) and Netherlands (February 25).
Estonia’s coaching staff invited four Kalev players to the final 2019 World Cup qualifying games: Kristjan Kangur, Janari Joesaar, Kristjan Kitsing and Erik Keedus will help their national team in games vs. Serbia (February 21) and Georgia (February 24).
Marko Simonovic (Zenit) and Darko Planinic (Zielona Gora) are on Serbia’s roster for games vs. Estonia (February 21) and Israel (February 24).
Even though the Canadian national team has already qualified for the World Cup, Melvin Ejim (UNICS) and Philip Scrubb (Zenit) will participate in home games vs. Chili (February 21) and Venezuela (February 24).
In order to qualify for the World Cup, Ukraine needs to beat Montenegro (February 22) and Slovenia (February 25). Denis Lukashov (Enisey) will try to help his national team reach that goal.
2021 European championships pre-qualifying
Belarus has 12 League players on its roster: Devon Saddler, Kiryl Sitnik, Aliaksei Trastsinetski, Mikita Meshcharakou, Siarhei Vabishchevich, Aliaksandr Kudrautsau, Aliaksandr Semianiuk, Vitali Liutych, Dzmitry Paliashchuk, Yauheni Beliankou, Anton Vashkevich (Tsmoki-Minsk), Maxim Salash (Kalev). The Belarusians play Sweden at home on February 24 in EuroBasket 2021 pre-qualifying.
Full list of League players on national teams
Avtodor: Nikita Mikhailovsky, Artem Zabelin
Astana: Anthony Clemmons, Nikolai Bazhin, Vadim Shcherbak, Rustam Murzagaliev, Rustam Yergali, Alexander Zhigulin, Askar Maidekin, Dmitry Gavrilov, Maxim Marchuk
VEF: Arturs Ausejs, Artis Ate, Mareks Mejeris
Enisey: Martins Meiers, Denis Lukashov
Zielona Gora: Darko Planinic, Lukasz Koszarek, Michal Sokolowski, Adam Hrycaniuk
Zenit: Marko Simonovic, Philip Scrubb
Kalev: Maxim Salash, Kristjan Kangur, Janari Joesaar, Kristjan Kitsing, Erik Keedus
Loko: Mateusz Ponitka, Dmitry Kulagin, Vitaly Fridzon, Dmitry Khvostov, Stanislav Ilnitsky, Vladimir Ivlev
Nizhny Novgorod: Evgeny Baburin, Ivan Strebkov
PARMA: Janis Blums, Alexander Platunov
UNICS: Artem Klimenko, Melvin Ejim
Tsmoki-Minsk: Devon Saddler, Kiryl Sitnik, Aliaksei Trastsinetski, Mikita Meshcharakou, Siarhei Vabishchevich, Aliaksandr Kudrautsau, Aliaksandr Semianiuk, Vitali Liutych, Dzmitry Paliashchuk, Yauheni Beliankou, Anton Vashkevich
Khimki: Petr Gubanov
CSKA: Andrey Vorontsevich, Alexander Khomenko
