On February 18-22 qualification games to continental tournaments 2022 and World Cup 2023 to be held. 53 players and 5 coaches from VTB United League were selected to National teams.
Due to pandemic and health security measures FIBA decided to hold all the games in bubbles.
Qualification for Europe championship-2022
There are 14 League representatives in Russia National team extended roster: Evgenii Baburin, Ivan Strebkov, Anton Astapkovich, Artem Komolov (all – Nizhny Novgorod), Grigory Motovilov, Stanislav Ilnitskiy (both – Lokomotiv-Kuban), Maxim Grigoryev, Vladimir Ivled (both – PARMA), Anton Kvitkovskikh (Avtodor) Mikhail Kulagin (Enisey), Evgeniy Valiev (Khimki) and Semen Antonov and Joel Bolomboy (both – CSKA). In bubble in Perm Russia will play against Macedonia (February 19) and Estonia (February 21).
Russia group opponents, Estonian National team selected 5 Kalev players for February games in Perm: Sten Sokk, Martin Dorbek, Janari Joesaar, Kregor Hermet, Rauno Nurger. Estonia will play against Italy (February 19), Russia (February 21) and Macedonia (February 22).
Latvian National team have 8 United League representatives: Mareks Mejeris (PARMA), Ojars Silins (Astana), Rolands Freimanis, Janis Berzins (both – Zielona Gora), Dairis Bertans, Janis Timma (Khimki) Arturs Zagars (Kalev) and Kalev head coach Roberts Stelmahers. The Latvians will face Bulgaria (February 20) and Greece (February 22) in Riga.
Lukasz Koszarek (Zielona Gora) and Marcel Ponitka (PARMA) will help Polish National team in the games against Spain (February 19) and Romania (February 21) in Gliwice.
In Gliwice Romanian National team and Kris Richard (Zielona Gora) will face Israel (February 19) and Poland (February 21).
Lithuanian National team selected Mindaugas Kuzminskas and Mantas Kalnietis (both Lokomotiv-Kuban) for home games against Czech Republic (February 20) and Denmark (February 22).
Zeljko Sakic (Avtodor) and Croatian National team will have games against Netherlands (February 20) and Turkey (February 22) in bubble in Ankara.
European pre-qualification for World Cup 2023
Belarussian National team selected 12 League players for the games against Portugal (February 18) and Albania (February 20) in Cyprus bubble: Uladzimir Verameyenka, Aliaksei Trastsinetski, Vadzim Stubeda, Andrei Stabrouski, Andrei Rahozenka, Aliaksandr Pustahvar, Dzianis Vikentsyeu, Yauheni Beliankou, Benjamin-Pavel Dodoo, Daniil Barysevich and head coach Rostislav Vergun (all – Tsmoki-Minsk).
Slovak National team head coach Zan Tabak (Zielona Gora) will head the team against Iceland (February 18) and Kosovo (February 20) in Pristina, Kosovo capital.
America 2022 championship qualification
Gian Clavell (Avtodor) will help Puerto-Rican National team in home games against Mexico (February 19) and Bahams (February 20).
Avtodor head coach Gordie Herbert will head Canadian National team in the game against Virgin Islands (February 20) in Puerto Rico.
Asia 2022 championship qualification
There are 10 Astana representatives selected to Kazakhstan National team: Emil Rajkovikj, Rustam Murzagaliyev, Dmitriy Gavrilov, Maxim Marchuk, Nikolay Bazhin, Askar Maidekin, Vadim Shcherbak, Andrei Litvienko, Ruslan Aitkali, Anton Ponomarev. Kazakhstan National team will face Sri Lanka (February 18, 22) and Palestina (February 19) in Bahrain.
Full list of League’s selected to National teams players and coaches
Avtodor: Anton Kvitkovskikh (Russia), Zeljko Sakic (Croatia), Gian Clavell (Puerto Rico), Gordie Herbert (Canada)
Astana: Emil Rajkovikj, Rustam Murzagaliyev, Dmitriy Gavrilov, Maxim Marchuk, Nikolay Bazhin, Askar Maidekin, Vadim Shcherbak, Andrei Litvienko, Ruslan Aitkali, Anton Ponomarev (all- Kazakhstan), Ojars Silins (Latvia)
Enisey: Mikhail Kulagin (Russia)
Zielona Gora: Lukasz Koszarek (Poland), Janis Berzins, Rolands Freimanis (Latvia), Zan Tabak (Slovakia), Kris Richard (Romania)
Kalev: Sten Sokk, Martin Dorbek, Janari Joesaar, Kregor Hermet, Rauno Nurger (all – Estonia), Roberts Stelmahers (Latvia)
Lokomotiv-Kuban: Stanislav Ilnitskiy, Grigory Motovilov (both – Russia), Mantas Kalnietis, Mindaugas Kuzminskas (both – Lithuania)
Nizhny Novgorod: Artem Komolov, Anton Astapkovich, Evgenii Baburin, Ivan Strebkov (all – Russia)
PARMA: Marcel Ponitka (Poland), Maxim Grigoryev, Vladimir Ivlev (Russia), Mareks Mejeris (Latvia)
Khimki: Evgeniy Valiev (Russia), Dairis Bertans, Janis Timma (both – Latvia)
Tsmoki-Minsk: Uladzimir Verameyenka, Aliaksei Trastsinetski, Vadzim Stubeda, Andrei Stabrouski, Andrei Rahozenka, Uladzislau Bliznyuk, Aliaksandr Pustahvar, Dzenis Vikentyeu, Yauheni Beliankou, Benjamin-Pavel Dodoo, Daniil Barysevich, Rostislav Vergun (all – Belarus)
CSKA: Semen Antonov, Joel Bolomboy (both – Russia)
