The president of the VTB United League, Sergei Kushchenko, lauded this year’s Super Cup as a clear success, with Match TV echoing that judgment and describing the event as a strong snapshot of the league’s progress and its wide-reaching impact. His reflections highlighted how the competition benefited from a robust international dimension and the participation of foreign clubs, whose arrival elevated the level of play and enhanced the overall spectator experience. One standout moment he emphasized came in the dramatic fifth-place game, when Lokomotiv-Kuban surged ahead in overtime and sealed the win with a buzzer-beating shot. That sequence, he noted, embodied the league’s grit and energy and served as a vivid example of the tournament’s intensity. Kushchenko believed these memorable plays helped set a tone for a season defined by high-stakes competition and relentless urgency, underscoring the league’s appeal for fans and stakeholders alike (VTB United League).
Looking ahead to the next season, Kushchenko spoke about growing parity among the contenders and an ongoing evolution in the league’s competitive dynamics. He stressed that no clear favorites had emerged, signaling a more balanced field and a healthier ecosystem overall. He contrasted recent years with earlier seasons when a single champion seemed to dominate from the opening tip, noting that the last three campaigns produced a rotating cast of champions, each claiming the crown in a different year. His optimism was evident: one additional strong challenger could join the mix, keeping the title race wide open. In his view, the top four teams looked formidable, yet the rest of the league stood ready to push hard and create a demanding schedule for everyone involved (VTB United League).
In the championship matchup of the Super Cup, CSKA Moscow outpaced UNICS Kazan 87 to 72, reaffirming CSKA’s status as a back-to-back cup winner and reinforcing its standing among the league’s elite. The podium was completed by Zenit clinching third place with an 83-70 victory over Red Star Belgrade. In the fifth-place game, Lokomotiv-Kuban edged Beşiktaş in a tight overtime, 95-94, as Antonius Cleveland delivered the decisive late drive as the siren neared. These results underscored the league’s depth and resilience across a diverse roster of teams, helping to set a demanding tone for the season ahead (VTB United League).
Beyond the scoreboard, the Super Cup functions as more than a final tally. It serves as a proving ground for teams integrating new players, adapting to coaching changes, and testing strategies within a high-stakes environment. The event also acts as a barometer for fan engagement and market growth in North America, where basketball ecosystems increasingly intersect with domestic leagues and media partnerships. The tournament’s footprint signals ongoing expansion of the VTB United League’s brand, collaborations, and reach, reinforcing its role within the wider global basketball landscape and illustrating how the league connects talent, competition, and audience across continents (VTB United League).