Seoul 1988 Olympic champion, now an expert and commentator, Sergei Tarakanov, shared his expectations for the upcoming championship especially for RG.
Last season was, by all accounts, one of the best in the history of the United League. Is there a precondition for the next championship not to be at least worse?
Sergey Tarakanov: I think so. The teams have not weakened. The formula of the play-in tournament, tested last season, is good. It allows you to keep the intrigue until the end. The Super Cup proved that the top three of the United League (CSKA, Zenit St. Petersburg and UNICS) are at the level of the Euroleague playoffs. Yes, we are used to talking about the big four, but Lokomotiv-Kuban is still in doubt. There are ambitions, there are quality squads. Much will depend on the physical abilities of the players. So far everything looks very interesting. I am looking forward to the season and I think that the strength of the United League is at least among the top 3 European championships.
Based on the lineups and what you saw in the Super Bowl, who would you say is the favorite to win the title?
Sergey Tarakanov: It’s very difficult to say. The three teams I named are almost the same. The details will decide a lot. For example, injuries. One or two players will leave and this is already a problem. But the trains of all three are sufficiently staffed to compensate even possible losses. Zenit, as always, has a super-strong and super-powerful selection of performers. CSKA kept the team and added Alex Avramovic, who can be an X-factor in many matches. The coach and the UNICS squad are also a pleasure to watch. And it was the Frenchman Louis Laberie who had not yet played in the Super Cup. So the fight will be serious. I’m looking forward to the first match on September 21. CSKA – UNICS: poster – from the start. I will call the Super Cup final with the participation of the same teams a warm-up. Kazan coach Velimir Perasovich probably had the opening match in mind. In addition, the UNICS match against Zenit the day before had an impact. I am sure that if some of the basketball players of the Kazan Club were fresher, they would have played better.
You put a question mark next to Loko. Is the Krasnodar team, which changed its coach in the off-season, the biggest mystery in the league?
Sergey Tarakanov: I have a very good attitude towards Andrei Vedishev, but for now it is an equation with unknowns. He knows basketball, he has been in basketball for a long time, but training involves a lot of things. I can’t say anything yet. I really hope that Vedishchev will cope, that he has enough strength, skills and knowledge.
CSKA has strengthened itself with a star point guard, while UNICS and Zenit have lost their first-choice players – Macedonian Nenad Dimitrievich and Frenchman Thomas Ertel respectively. Are these teams different now?
Sergei Tarakanov: Dimitrievich took on a lot and was strong individually. Now the leadership role of UNICS will be blurred and each of the players will be able to take it on for themselves. First of all, their newcomer Devon Akun-Purcell, who is a big bet. It is interesting to watch the Kazan people. As for Ertel, what Moon showed in the preseason was a super high level of skill, especially on offense. He is a different style of player than Ertel, but I think he can be even better offensively than Thomas.
Who outside of the Big Four can we expect surprises from?
Sergei Tarakanov: Parma and Uralmash are ready to repeat the progress of last season. Krasnoyarsk “Yenisei” is in doubt, Saratov “Avtodor” is also in doubt. There are many newcomers there, I would like to see them in action first. I don’t really know some of them, especially foreigners. “Samara” has combat strength and corresponding ambitions. But I would not risk saying that any of the listed clubs are ready to be in the top three. However, the fact that in every match, especially within their own walls, they will impose a fight on any team, that’s for sure. “Nizhny Novgorod” – I don’t know yet. MBA will bite. It is probably difficult to expect such a bright season as they had in their debut. At least because of the lack of novelty effect. Now it is more difficult for them. However, the arrival of Andrei Zubkov can bring new colors to their game. Let’s see, I really like the project of a club with exclusively Russian players.
Where will we see?
September 21, Saturday
“Television match”
13.30. CSKA – UNICS. Live broadcast
Regulations
This season, the number of participating clubs was reduced to 12: for various reasons, Runa Moscow and Minsk from Belarus left the United League. The tournament format has undergone changes. During the regular season, all clubs will play each other twice, home and away. The top six teams will qualify for the playoffs, and the clubs finishing 7th to 10th will compete for the remaining two spots. The quarter-final and third-place series will be played up to three wins. Semi-final and final matches – up to four wins.
