CSKA went to Saint Petersburg

Today players and the coaching staff of PBC CSKA by the regular flight went to Saint Petersburg where the 11th memorial tournament Vladimir Kondrashin and Alexander Belov Cup will take place.

Today afternoon our team will have a 2-hour practice on the floor of sport hall Yubileyniy. Today at 19:00 here the first historical derby between Spartak SPb and Dynamo SPb will take place here.

Kondrashin-Belov Cup will take official start on October 2. The tournament will start by the first semifinal game between Prokom Poland and Zalgiris Lithuania at 16:30. Then the official open ceremony and the second semifinal game between CSKA Moscow and Skyliners Germany. The game for the third place will take place on October 3 at 16:00. 2 hours later the winners of the semifinals will fight for the trophy of the Cup.

After the accommodation of the army team in Nevskiy Palace Hotel the head coach of CSKA Dusan Ivkovic told about the conditions of his team before the start of the tournament:

Tomorrow we have to play against Skyliners who is returning to Euroleague ULEB this season. It is very strong Germany club who is always fighting with Alba Berlin for the leadership in the national championship. We need to be very serious in this game because we get the full roster only one week ago. Several players recently returned to us from the national teams. Sergey Monya lost about 6 kilos during that time that he was ill. We need to protect our player. Now he has individual program of the practice. For a first time in my coaching career I am getting the full squad so late, that is why we need to work hard here in Saint Petersburg.

My players and I are very proud to participate in this tournament to the memory of two extraordinary peoples for the second year in a row. Telling about the results, I think that all participants will maximally us these games for a best practice for a new season.

I like Saint Petersburg very much and very glad to return here again. Unfortunately we have not enough time to see some sights or to go to the Hermitage. The only one that we can is to see on the beautiful places of the city through the windows of our club bus.