By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
With the VTB United League SuperCup 2025 heading to Belgrade and Dubai among the four contenders, Davis Bertans will skip the preseason tournament.
The 32-year-old combo forward of Dubai announced his decision following the first practice with the senior national team of Latvia, heading to the EuroBasket 2025.
The Latvian forward wanted to stay out of the tournament sponsored by the Russian company VTB, due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
“Considering who is organizing the VTB Super Cup, I cannot participate in a tournament with that name, even in a game against Crvena Zvezda,” he said during a media session on Monday. “The team supports my decision, although the coach had not previously looked at the situation from that perspective.”
In addition to the EuroLeague newcomers and Crvena Zvezda, Russian clubs CSKA and Zenit are slated to play in the Super Cup, between September 24 and 25 in the Belgrade Arena.
Bertans is among the returning players for Dubai and is set to be part of the team’s first EuroLeague journey during the 2025-26 season.
“Based on our lineup right now, we are not simply playing in the EuroLeague, but will also compete for the higher spots on the standings,” he shared his projections for the next edition of Europe’s premier club continental competition.
Before signing with upstart Dubai last September, the native of Valmiera logged 520 NBA appearances, spread between the San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks, Washington Wizards, Charlotte Hornets, and Oklahoma City Thunder, since 2016, five years after being drafted by the Indiana Pacers with the 42nd overall pick.
In the upcoming EuroBasket, Latvia is in Group A and will face Turkiye, Estonia, Serbia, Portugal, and Czechia in the preliminary round. The top four seeds will stay in Riga to compete in the knockout stage of the tournament.
Photo Credit: ABA-Liga.com