Eight clubs from Russia, Serbia, and Bosnia have been divided into two groups to combine spectacle and style with high-quality basketball and determine the champion in the spring “Final Four.” The second season of the WINLINE Basket Cup will begin on October 2 with a match between PARMA and CSKA.
Group A
CSKA Moscow, Russia: Reigning Champion
The Army Men have claimed their first historic trophy and are determined to make it a permanent fixture in the club’s museum. The Red-and-Blues are approaching the tournament with the grace of a ruthless machine that is unique to them: minimal changes to the championship roster and coaching staff, a deep, balanced roster with clearly defined roles, and a winning mentality. A year ago, the Muscovites started with a sensational home loss to Mega, but went on to win absolutely every remaining game and turned the St. Petersburg “Final Four” into their own triumph. CSKA has only one goal in the WINLINE Basket Cup—to claim yet another trophy.
The Difference-Maker – Melo Trimble
With a Hollywood smile and a lightning-fast first step, Melo has a keen sense of distance and can punish opponents from anywhere on the court. When CSKA needs a spark or a clutch shot, the MVP of the United League and the WINLINE Basket Cup takes the ball and makes the play in isolation—it’s practically impossible to stop him one-on-one. Trimble, to sum up, is a basketball killer and the leading scorer.
Zenit St. Petersburg, Russia: A Thirst for Revenge
The St. Petersburg team missed out on their first WBC trophy in the home “Final Four,” and to make matters worse, suffered an inexplicable, extremely painful defeat to PARMA in the bronze medal match despite a “+20” lead. So this time, the team is in the most battle-ready mindset possible. Last year’s Zenit roster ultimately couldn’t withstand several mid-season roster shakeups and forced player signings. This summer, St. Petersburg was once again in turmoil: both the management and the coaching staff were replaced. The team was taken over by basketball “samurai” Duško Ivanović, who faces the task of restoring long-awaited order in the Northern capital. If the blue-white-and-blues don’t make life difficult for themselves, then this well-resourced organization and its skilled players will have a good chance at basketball redemption.
The Difference Maker – Ike Iroegbu
A fast point guard who sets the pace for St. Petersburg’s offense. Iroegbu loves driving to the basket, intensifying the play, and drawing defenders toward him, freeing up space for his teammates. The 188-centimeter guard is valuable not only in facilitating the offense and scoring but also on the boards. The new driving force behind St. Petersburg’s offense has already proven himself in the League’s opening game against Uralmash, scoring 17 points and grabbing 5 rebounds.
Parma Perm, Russia: The Bold Underdog
Last season, Evgeny Pashutin’s team literally snatched the bronze medal from Zenit and made everyone take them seriously. In Perm, people love basketball so much that you simply can’t play “without heart” here—not even on the coldest Ural evening. In this cup, PARMA is the very opponent no one wants to visit: the local guys will outrun, outmuscle, and snatch victory amid the roar of a packed “Molot” arena. At the same time, determination and competitive fire aren’t the Perm team’s only strengths. The signings of foreign players of the caliber of Joshua Primo, Jeremiah Martin, Brian Fobbs, and B.J. Johnson give the local fans hope that their beloved team will reach a whole new level.
The Difference Maker – Joshua Primo
The former NBA player is ready to bring athleticism, creative offense, and a solid reserve of composure for the decisive moments to Perm’s game. Primo is capable of closing out plays on his own—beating a defender, driving to the basket, or boldly sinking a three-pointer over defenders. The No. 12 pick in the 2021 draft made a spectacular return to basketball after a serious injury in the League’s victory over UNICS in Kazan: 22 points on 6-for-7 shooting. The talented Canadian, selected by Gregg Popovich, came to Russia to relaunch his career and take PARMA’s ambitions to new heights.
Igokea Laktashi, Bosnia and Herzegovina: The Balkan Spirit
After an unsuccessful debut in the WINLINE Basket Cup, the Bosnians are back, eager to prove their competitiveness. Igokea knows how to drag opponents into a grueling, physical game where every basket has to be literally fought for. If opponents let their guard down, they pay the price quickly. Just recently, Zenit fell victim to this very scenario, losing to the Bosnians in the League SuperCup’s 5th-place game despite holding a double-digit lead. Something tells me that the club from Laktaši will avoid a repeat of last year’s 0-6 record in the group stage this time around.
The Difference Maker – Nate Pierre-Louis
Pierre-Louis is a classic example of a two-way player. He not only initiates fast breaks and drives boldly to the basket—while making sure not to overlook open teammates—but also takes on the most difficult tasks of neutralizing the opponent’s top stars. In the recent League SuperCup, the Bosnian team’s key player averaged 14.6 points, 3.3 assists, and 3.0 steals, earning a spot on the All-Tournament Team. We look forward to seeing more from him in the WINLINE Basket Cup.
Group B
UNICS Kazan, Russia: A Fresh Start in Pursuit of the Title
The Kazan team steamrolled their opponents last season, stumbling only in the very final. Yet another loss to CSKA (not to mention two defeats in League championship series over the past three years) sparked a basketball revolution in the capital of Tatarstan. Coaches and players have come and gone, but UNICS’s main weapons remain its defense, precise team play, a powerful frontcourt, and a no-holds-barred approach on the court. Milan Karakas, making his debut as head coach, has a lot of work ahead of him, but the white-and-greens are rightfully entering the season as one of the top favorites.
Making the difference – Jalen Reynolds
The team’s key wild card and the highest-scoring foreign player in the history of the VTB United League. Jalen is entering his fifth season in Kazan—a rare feat for an American playing for a European club—and throughout that time has remained the team’s primary offensive threat in the paint. When the “big man” comes off the bench, he instantly adds aggression on the boards and power under the basket to UNICS’s game, as well as consistent shooting from a wide variety of distances, including the three-point line. Reynolds loves to play to the crowd, so he also makes a difference in terms of entertainment, which is especially appreciated in the WBC.
Lokomotiv-Kuban Krasnodar, Russia: A Rapid Rise
Loko remains true to itself: maximum energy, a frenetic pace, and promising Russian players hungry for victory who don’t bow to authority. Last summer, the Kuban team made some high-profile signings in the form of Aleksej Pokusevski and Trevelin Queen; Alen Hadzibegović has finally settled in, and Patrick Miller, the team’s leading player in recent years, remains in place. So this season, the Red-and-Greens’ aspirations are based not only on speed and ambition but also on the highest level of skill. A nice bonus: watching this attack-minded Krasnodar team is a pure pleasure—there are never any boring games with Tomislav Tomović’s squad.
The Difference Maker – Patrick Miller
The driving force behind Krasnodar’s offense and a master of the pick-and-roll, he reads the rhythm of the game like no one else. The American knows how to instantly break down the opponent’s defense with a sharp drive or a hidden pass. The ever-present broad smile on the face of this outstanding family man has nothing in common with his basketball alter ego: Patrick’s aggressive style and cool-headedness make Loko lethal in the closing minutes.
Uralmash Yekaterinburg, Russia: A Factory-Style Team
The Uralmash team continues to prove that their status as a recent newcomer knocking on the door of the elite doesn’t faze them in the least. Last season, they gave every single team a run for their money: they fell just short of the “Final Four” due to the complexities of the point differential. Eager to break the “Big Four’s” stranglehold on the top spots, Uralmash relies on aggressive pressure, the spirit of a team with nothing to lose, and the skill of its foreign players.
The Difference-Maker – Octavius Ellis
A dominant force under the basket and a regular in the highlights, Ellis anchors the three-second zone on defense, grabs rebounds, and puts up a steady stream of spectacular dunks on offense. His athleticism and size give the Yekaterinburg team a crucial advantage on the boards. The only thing worrying Ural fans is the center’s health; everything else he already has.
FMP Belgrade, Serbia: Serbian Drive
The tournament newcomer from Belgrade embodies the classic Serbian style: bold and talented young players, tough veterans, and a coach who’s ready to explode on the sidelines over a single errant pass. FMP is entering the WINLINE Basket Cup ready to give any opponent a good fight on the court. At home, these classic representatives of the Balkan style are capable of beating anyone, so all the teams in Group B are looking forward to their trip to the Serbian capital with a touch of nervous anticipation.
The Difference-Maker – Jamiya Neal
An athletic, versatile forward and FMP’s star player on the perimeter. Thanks to his 2-meter height and blazing speed, Neal can cover multiple positions at once, driving to the basket and defending against the opponent’s key players with equal effectiveness. Jamiya scores points, is active on the boards, initiates fast breaks, and draws defenders toward him—the central figure in the offense of the Serbian WBC debutant is poised to make a big splash in the new tournament very soon.
The Most Stylish Basketball Tournament
The WINLINE Basket Cup is about more than just basketball. For its second season, all tournament teams received exclusive jerseys in the City Edition style. Each uniform captures the vibe of its city. The designs incorporate architecture, local symbols, and details that are instantly recognizable.
The sketches were created by Alina Gibadullina, known for her collaborations with NBA teams. Her work has already been praised by Pharrell Williams, Drake, and Tyler, the Creator. Very soon, Russian basketball fans will join that list.
Kick off
The championship starts today, on October 2 at the country’s hottest arena—PARMA, the top club’s main scalp hunter, will host the defending champion and basketball’s biggest thorn in the side, CSKA. In early September, the Ural team defeated the main title contender in a preseason game, 84–79. Toward the end of the month, they took down another Unified League finals participant, UNICS, in Kazan in their very first official matchup (97–88). To be continued?
Before the game, musician and blogger DIMMA URIH—who is also an ambassador for the Perm club—will take the stage. Performances by popular artists and colorful personalities in the front rows are an integral part of every WBC match.
New participants, a revamped, one-of-a-kind format, stars on the court, and top-notch basketball. The second edition of the WINLINE Basket Cup will kick off with a bang at “Molot.” The new season is just around the corner!