By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Some of the most prominent coaches of the VTB League wish to see the 2019-2020 season completed at some point and not be canceled overall. On March 12, the VTB board decided to suspend the championship until April 10 to help prevent the further spread of the coronavirus outbreak.
“I have this hope [that the season will resume on April] even though I’m a big skeptic,” CSKA Moscow coach Dimitris Itoudis said to Izvestia. “At the same time, I’m very worried that some European championships have named the standings leaders as champions and finished the season early.” The Lithuanian League and the Polish League have been canceled and named Zalgiris Kaunas and Zielona Gora as champions respectively. The latter is also competing in VTB.
“The champion must emerge on the basketball court, even in this kind of case. Better the season to be nulled and voided than have a champion in this way,” Itoudis said.
Khimki Moscow is the team currently sitting at the top of the VTB standings. Coach Rimas Kurtinaitis is preparing his players to be ready for action not only for when the league is up and running again but also for possible friendly games.
“We gave our team three days off to evaluate the situation,” Kurtinaitis said. “We are now aware of the decisions regarding the possible dates for a VTB League and EuroLeague relaunch and we eagerly waiting for it. We have begun practicing and have created a clear schedule for the next two weeks. If we are allowed to play some friendly matches, something necessary to keep our form, then this plan will be rearranged. I don’t know if it’s possible or not. But the most important part is that our foreign players didn’t leave. Everyone understands their responsibilities and want the season to be completed.”
“Final Eight a potential solution”
Unics Kazan coach Dimitris Priftis proposed the idea of a “Final Eight” tournament as a solution that may facilitate the smooth completion of the season.
“Final Eight could be one of the solutions,” Priftis said. “It will make the final stage of the season shorter, faster and less predictable.” Unics is waiting for the EuroCup season to potentially continue, apart from VTB.
“It’s not the best possible period for us due to games not being played. But we practice hard in order to remain in good shape. Of course we are looking at what is happening in the world. The team is very careful regarding safety measures and doctors’ recommendations since the COVID-19 outbreak. We all take care of each other and are taking individual protective measures to avoid or reduce the possibility of contracting the virus.”
Photo: VTB League