While the VTB United League season continues, it’s time to remember the second most powerful basketball tournament in our country. Everyone who follows the Super League will confirm that this is quite a strong competition, where there is someone to watch and someone to empathize with. Yes, in short, looking at the finalists of this season, we can come to a hasty conclusion that nothing has changed in the Super League in the last two seasons. But this is absolutely not true!
promotion in class
Suffice it to recall that last season in the Super League-1 (this tournament was called that then) Samara and MBA played. Volzhans took the final fifth place in the regular season, and Muscovites – ninth. But it was the applications of the two aforementioned clubs that were approved by the board of directors of the VTB United League. Both teams guaranteed not only financial stability, but also the fulfillment of a whole package of marketing obligations: a modern stadium, a television image, full media support, ticket sales.
As a result, Samara finally fought for a place in the playoffs literally until the last game, and MBA became the overall season opener, ranking sixth in the regular season and killing blows in the playoffs with Zenit.
Clubs from Superleague-2 came to the place of those who moved up the class: Tambov, Rusichi and Zenit-2 (the double from the St. Petersburg team became the 15th team, replacing Ufimets).
Makar Konovalov in attack
Photo: PBK MBA
Success Cup “Khimki”
Only two foreigners can still play in the Super League. And this plays in favor of the clubs in cup matches. The representatives of the VTB United League have to seriously change their tactical schemes and composition, while the Super League clubs continue to operate with the usual combinations. It is especially good for those who do not use the services of the Varangians at all. Like, for example, MBA and Khimki. It is surprising that these teams met at the end in the bronze match, where the representatives of the United League were stronger.
The path of the Moscow Region team to the Final Four of the Russian Cup turned out to be amazing. Andrey Maltsev’s team approached the series with Samara in the round of 16 in loser status. It is clear that the VTB League Club, even without being able to use all foreigners, was still on paper a few goals stronger. But already in the first match it became clear that the club from the Moscow Region would not surrender to the favor of the favorite. The Yellow-Blues managed to draw, but the away game was supposed to be played in Samara, and this again made the mission of achieving the final victory impossible. Add to this a long flight delay, due to which the Khimki basketball players not only did not train before the match, but immediately arrived from the airport for the match and almost missed it.
As a result, all the difficulties motivated Khimki so much that they drove not only Samara out of their way, but also Runa, who confidently defeated the yellow-blues in the regular season. The fairy tale ended without a happy ending: Maltsev’s guys lost both meetings in the Final Four in St. Petersburg and finished the tournament in fourth place.
Khimki is the main season premiere in the Super League
Photo: BC Khimki
Favorites
Uralmash and Runa reached the final for the second year in a row. The two strongest teams confidently passed the regular season, synchronously taking off in the Russian Cup. True, the Urals gave Zenit a serious fight, and Runa fell under the ice rink of Khimki, who, after the success in Samara, simply outplayed their opponents in the first match.
In the final series of the playoffs, the fight regarding the final score of the series did not work out. In each of the three matches, the Yekaterinburg club was half a length stronger and luckier. At home, the two-time Super League champion has not lost since the end of 2021, and that streak continues. Fantastic!
“Rune” vs. “Temp-Sumz-UMMC”
Photo: PBC “Rune”
RBF President Andrey Kirilenko also came to the match number three. He named the reasons for Uralmash’s victory and expressed the hope that both teams will enter the VTB United League next season.
“It seems to me that Runa lacked the depth of the lineup. The boys play basketball well, but this stability is a bit lacking. Uralmash has a slightly longer bench. Yekaterinburg residents lobbied from the very beginning, and Runa did not have an answer for this. Then she adjusted a bit, but it was too late. Great ending though. We must pay tribute to “Rune”, which she continued to fight.
A bit disappointing that the final ended in three games. Of course, I want that series to have the maximum number of games. But then again, when the game is decided by a roll, what can you do?
It seems to me that Runa and Uralmash have shown that they can play matches at a high level. Both teams claim to be promoted, to join the VTB United League, so it is very important to keep up in terms of basketball and organization.
When someone goes from the Super League to the United League, we perceive it as a victory. We are happy for MBA and Samara, who got there last year. Before there was Parma, who showed great basketball in the first Super League. The MBA caused a sensation in general. It is gratifying that the teams that play with us are growing at such a level,” Kirilenko said.
If this happens, then for the second year in a row, the Super League will give the United League two new members. This will allow the league to not only increase the number of games, but also increase competition for a spot in the top eight of the playoffs. It is clear that in the event of entering the VTB League, the compositions of Uralmash and Runa are likely to undergo serious changes, but that will be a completely different story.
