The VTB United League President spoke to Serbian newspaper Kurir about the upcoming SuperCup, which will be held outside Russia for the first time.
– Serbian clubs have already participated in the VTB League SuperCup, but this is the first time the tournament will be held outside Russia. How did this idea come about and why was Belgrade chosen?
– Belgrade is rightly considered one of the basketball capitals of Europe today. This is primarily due to Serbia’s rich basketball culture and its outstanding historical achievements in this sport. Basketball in Serbia is more than just a sport, it’s almost a religion. It is no coincidence that Serbian teams responded to our invitation and took part in the first SuperCups in Moscow. We were in constant communication with coaches and club managers. We are very grateful to them for participating in our tournament. Their feedback made us realize that we were on the right track and gave us the confidence to move forward. That’s how the idea to hold a tournament in one of Europe’s best basketball cities, Belgrade, was born. Of course, it wasn’t easy, but thanks to the support of the country’s leadership, the city government, the Serbian Basketball Federation, and our friends who helped organize the event, we were able to make a lot happen.
We hope that everything will work out and that this tournament will be another step towards strengthening basketball cooperation between the VTB League and the Serbian basketball community.
– What are your expectations for the SuperCup in Belgrade?
– First of all, I would like to emphasize the following: for three and a half years, VTB League clubs have not played outside the country. Therefore, the tournament can be seen as a kind of test, a litmus test that will allow us to assess the level of basketball in the VTB League compared to leading European clubs and tournaments. This year’s Super Cup will feature strong teams such as Crvena Zvezda and Dubai, who will face last season’s VTB League finalists, CSKA and Zenit. For some, this tournament is part of their preseason preparation, while for others it is already a serious competition. I am talking primarily about our clubs. Nevertheless, everything will take place just a week before the start of the official club season. Therefore, we are confident that the basketball will be of a high standard: coaches will field lineups close to their starting to understand the shape of their teams and how best to start the season. Therefore, we expect high-quality basketball and serious competition.
– Are there any plans to hold one of the next VTB League SuperCups in Belgrade?
– First of all, we expect Serbian fans to come to the tournament, as well as many guests from Russia. We would like not only to show the level of play, but also to bring part of the VTB League’s basketball culture to Belgrade – the culture of hosting games, the atmosphere, the style of organization. Serbian fans are very sophisticated and have a deep understanding of basketball, which is a great honor for us and challenge at the same time. We hope to demonstrate high quality not only on the court, but also off it. In addition, we are looking forward to lively communication with the Serbian basketball community in order to better understand their expectations and views, and at the same time show the current level of the VTB League. After the event, we and our partners will evaluate its success in various areas, and then we will be able to confidently announce our plans for cooperation.
– What are the overall plans for the tournament in the coming years, and do you see Serbian clubs participating in this tournament in the future?
– It is undoubtedly a great honor for us to cooperate with and host clubs from Serbia. We are extremely grateful to the clubs that have supported us from the very beginning. One of the first was Partizan, and we sincerely thank them for the participation. We are also very grateful to Crvena Zvezda, which not only participates in the tournament but also provides tremendous assistance in its organization. We are confident that we will have other joint projects in the future. One of them has already been launched: starting next season, the VTB League will launch a pilot mini-tournament, a joint project with our partner. All the formalities have been settled, and the team from Serbia will also take part in it. This project is another step towards the VTB League continuing to develop and reach a new international level.
– Many Serbian basketball players have played for Russian teams. What memories do you have of them, and who left the best impression?
Of course, a huge number of outstanding Serbian players have played in the VTB League. Dusan Ivkovic holds a special place in my memory. He played a huge role in my basketball life and had a serious impact on the development of the great club CSKA. I would like to extend my warmest regards to Dusan’s family: his wife Nene and his son Pavle. Ivkovic’s name is forever inscribed in the history of European and World basketball. Over the years, many strong Serbian players have played for VTB League clubs. One of the most notable examples is Milos Teodosic. He played for CSKA and made a huge contribution to the club’s success at the highest level. Russian basketball fans surely remember and will long remember the achievements of Krstic, Marjanovic, Radulica, Milutinov, and Avramovic. This list would not be complete without Stevan Jelovac, who set a record for the number of points scored (49) in a single VTB League game. When a basketball player from Serbia comes to Russia, he is always a high-quality, systematic, disciplined player, trained in his country’s powerful basketball school. This is what distinguishes Serbian basketball: stability, a high level of training, and a culture of play. Just look at the leaders of World basketball – many of them are from Serbia. And this is no coincidence. The system of club training and work with reserves here is a global benchmark, a trend that many countries are following.
All this suggests that the decision to hold the VTB League SuperCup in Belgrade was logical and expected. Once again, I would like to thank everyone involved in preparing for this important event. Operating in an environment where basketball has to compete for fans’ attention with other sports, we are ready to surprise the discerning Belgrade audience. You will find out exactly how on September 24 and 25 at the Belgrade Arena.
