The VTB United League Board took place on June 14. Following the results, a press conference was held with the Honorary President of the League Sergey Ivanov, the President of the League Sergey Kushchenko and the General Manager Ilona Korstin.
Here are the main quotes of Sergey Kushchenko, the VTB League President:
About the League Board
The Board was held at a very good level – as was the entire season that ended. Our main task is the quality of basketball. Sergey Ivanov pointed this out at the Board, it will be very difficult to get strong legionnaires, because our teams do not have European tournaments. Therefore, legionnaires will choose the Euroleague first, then the EuroCup, and somewhere from that moment our teams will receive high-quality legionnaires. The quality will drop, but not so much that it will not be interesting to our fans.
About legionnaires
Both the government, the Ministry of Sports, and the VTB League have created a mechanism for inviting foreign players to the teams. It was created, everything depends on the possibilities. Therefore, we hope that all teams will sign legionnaires of a decent level for good quality basketball. Business is a very cynical thing, a player comes and performs for money. The end of the season showed that the teams felt it: someone kept the legionnaires, someone did not. We got the product that is still being discussed. Our main task in creating high-quality basketball is to create a mechanism for a high-level legionnaire to come to our teams.
I would like to add that many teams still have contracts with top players. This is at least a decent compensation. But as we know, the teams are trying to keep both coaches and players for next season, which is very good for the League. We hope it will be so.
About the Super Cup
The Super Cup is a separate competition, and our regulations state that this is an official event. It is mentioned in regulations that we can invite teams from other championships and countries. We have sent such invites, including to Serbian teams. Therefore, we are waiting for the end of their championships and will continue to try to invite them to our Super Cup. This is allowed by our regulations and it will be, at least, status.
About the new League teams and the transfer market
MBA and Samara have already signed well-known coaches and entered the players market. In fact, it will be very interesting how the basketball market will develop, since there are few players, there will be much fewer high-quality legionnaires, and after the Board, the transfer market in the VTB League will open. For young players, for example, the teams has already begun to fight.
