Format, club lineup and draw for 2014-2015 season
The draw and official introduction to the 2015 VTB season took place today in Moscow
The VTB United League Board confirmed the format and club lineup for the 2014-2015 season today in Moscow. 22 clubs, split into two groups, will participate in the regular season, playing each team in their group twice (home and away).
After it was announced that Spartak (Russia), Turow (Poland), Donetsk and Azovmash (Ukraine) could not participate in the upcoming season, five new clubs were accepted into the League: Bisons (Finland), Avtodor (Russia), Dzukija, Lietkabelis, Nevezis (Lithuania). The final participant will be determined later and will receive a wild card.
In addition, Russia's Triumph Lyubertsy is moving to St. Petersburg and will be renamed Zenit.
The competition format will not be changed. The VTB United League regular season will begin in October 2014 and conclude in April 2015. The top two finishers in both groups will advance directly to the quarterfinals, while teams in 3rd-6th place will begin in the first round. The playoffs will be held from April - June 2015.
The official ceremony to introduce the League's 6th season was held on the luxurious River Palace restaurant liner during a cruise down the Moscow River. All of the guests at the relaxed, informal ceremony enjoyed beautiful views of the city, bridges and exquisite cathedrals. Ilona Kirstin did a superb job as emcee.
Slick videos alternated with speeches from guests and draw participants, including famous coaches and players (Vasily Karasev, Evgeny Pashutin, Ivan Edeshko, Valery Tikhonenko), well-known League representatives (Jiri Zidek, Tomas Pacesas) and high-ranking guests (VTB Bank Board Chairman, VTB United League vice president Vasily Titov, Sollers General Director Vadim Shvetsov, Asteros Board Chairman Yuri Byakov, Utair Vice President Yuri Shkabar) and other famous people from the basketball world. Everyone was united on this sunny day by their love for basketball.
One of the most memorable moments from the draw was the appearance of Miss Cheerleader Giedre Abromaviciute of the Lietuvos Rytas dance team, who also participated in dividing the teams into groups.
Organizers divided the League's top four Russian clubs, based on their performance over the last three seasons, into different groups - CSKA, UNICS, Khimki, Lokomotiv-Kuban (pot #1). The top two Lithuanian clubs, Lietuvos Rytas and Neptunas, went into pot #2. Pot #3 consisted of the League's three Lithuanian newcomers, Dzukija, Lietkabelis, Nevezis, as well as one wild card team. Due to their geographic location, Enisey and Astana were put in pot #4, while Tsmoki-Minsk and Astana went into pot #5, after being recently drawn into the same group in European competition. Four foreign teams, including one newcomer, went into pot #6 (Nymburk, VEF, Kalev, Bisons). Five Russian clubs rounded out the draw in pot #7 (Nizhny Novgorod, Krasnye Krylia, Zenit, Krasny Oktyabr, Avtodor).
Here are the results of the draw, which was accompanied by plenty of wise-cracking from League general director Andrey Shirokov.
Group A:
CSKA (Russia), Lokomotiv-Kuban (Russia), Nizhny Novgorod (Russia), Zenit (Russia), Krasny Oktyabr (Russia), Neptunas (Lithuania), Dzukija (Lithuania), Enisey (Russia), Kalev (Estonia), Nymburk (Czech Republic), wild card.
Group B:
Khimki (Russia), UNICS (Russia), Krasnye Krylia (Russia), Avtodor (Russia), Lietuvos Rytas (Lithuania), Lietkabelis (Lithuania), Nevezis (Lithuania), Astana (Kazakhstan), Tsmoki-Minsk (Belarus), VEF (Latvia), Bisons (Finland).
After it was announced that Spartak (Russia), Turow (Poland), Donetsk and Azovmash (Ukraine) could not participate in the upcoming season, five new clubs were accepted into the League: Bisons (Finland), Avtodor (Russia), Dzukija, Lietkabelis, Nevezis (Lithuania). The final participant will be determined later and will receive a wild card.
In addition, Russia's Triumph Lyubertsy is moving to St. Petersburg and will be renamed Zenit.
The competition format will not be changed. The VTB United League regular season will begin in October 2014 and conclude in April 2015. The top two finishers in both groups will advance directly to the quarterfinals, while teams in 3rd-6th place will begin in the first round. The playoffs will be held from April - June 2015.
The official ceremony to introduce the League's 6th season was held on the luxurious River Palace restaurant liner during a cruise down the Moscow River. All of the guests at the relaxed, informal ceremony enjoyed beautiful views of the city, bridges and exquisite cathedrals. Ilona Kirstin did a superb job as emcee.
Slick videos alternated with speeches from guests and draw participants, including famous coaches and players (Vasily Karasev, Evgeny Pashutin, Ivan Edeshko, Valery Tikhonenko), well-known League representatives (Jiri Zidek, Tomas Pacesas) and high-ranking guests (VTB Bank Board Chairman, VTB United League vice president Vasily Titov, Sollers General Director Vadim Shvetsov, Asteros Board Chairman Yuri Byakov, Utair Vice President Yuri Shkabar) and other famous people from the basketball world. Everyone was united on this sunny day by their love for basketball.
One of the most memorable moments from the draw was the appearance of Miss Cheerleader Giedre Abromaviciute of the Lietuvos Rytas dance team, who also participated in dividing the teams into groups.
Organizers divided the League's top four Russian clubs, based on their performance over the last three seasons, into different groups - CSKA, UNICS, Khimki, Lokomotiv-Kuban (pot #1). The top two Lithuanian clubs, Lietuvos Rytas and Neptunas, went into pot #2. Pot #3 consisted of the League's three Lithuanian newcomers, Dzukija, Lietkabelis, Nevezis, as well as one wild card team. Due to their geographic location, Enisey and Astana were put in pot #4, while Tsmoki-Minsk and Astana went into pot #5, after being recently drawn into the same group in European competition. Four foreign teams, including one newcomer, went into pot #6 (Nymburk, VEF, Kalev, Bisons). Five Russian clubs rounded out the draw in pot #7 (Nizhny Novgorod, Krasnye Krylia, Zenit, Krasny Oktyabr, Avtodor).
Here are the results of the draw, which was accompanied by plenty of wise-cracking from League general director Andrey Shirokov.
Group A:
CSKA (Russia), Lokomotiv-Kuban (Russia), Nizhny Novgorod (Russia), Zenit (Russia), Krasny Oktyabr (Russia), Neptunas (Lithuania), Dzukija (Lithuania), Enisey (Russia), Kalev (Estonia), Nymburk (Czech Republic), wild card.
Group B:
Khimki (Russia), UNICS (Russia), Krasnye Krylia (Russia), Avtodor (Russia), Lietuvos Rytas (Lithuania), Lietkabelis (Lithuania), Nevezis (Lithuania), Astana (Kazakhstan), Tsmoki-Minsk (Belarus), VEF (Latvia), Bisons (Finland).
A. Caporaso
@Facu_PCF
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