"A Day in history": The revival of the Kondrashin and Belov Cup
In honor of the tenth anniversary of the Zenit basketball club, we are starting a special project called "A Day in history" where we will recall the most memorable moments and events in the history of the blue-whites.
On September 3, 2021, the famous Vladimir Kondrashin and Alexander Belov Cup was revived. The tournament's format changed, but it remained dear to fans in St. Petersburg and basketball enthusiasts across Russia. On the first day of the competition, Zenit defeated Nizhny Novgorod with a score of 95:69 and advanced to the finals. Three-time world champion Nina Poznanskaya made the symbolic first jump ball. Let’s refresh our memory of key events in the tournament’s history, both before and after its revival.
History
It’s no surprise that the cup bears the names of legends in Russian basketball. The famous coach and athlete need no introduction. Alexander Belov was a Spartak player and the author of the winning shot at the Munich Olympics. Vladimir Kondrashin was the coach of Spartak Leningrad and the Soviet national team, a member of the FIBA Hall of Fame, and an honorary citizen of the city.
Over the years, the competition underwent several changes. The first cup dedicated to Alexander Belov's memory was held in 1979. It was called the "Tournament of the best trade union teams of the top league," and the winner was Leningrad’s Spartak. The main prize was awarded to the club's captain by Alexander Belov’s mother, Maria Dmitrievna. By 1991, the competition was renamed the "Memorial of Olympic Champion Alexander Belov," and Spartak again claimed victory. Teams from George Washington University (USA), Finland's KTP, and Poland's Polonia also participated.
From 1995 to 1998, teams from Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Israel, Poland, Finland, Estonia, Slovenia, and the USA participated. In 1999, Vladimir Petrovich Kondrashin died, and the cup in his memory was called the "Tournament of sorrow." In addition to Spartak, teams like Ukraine’s national team, Khimki, and Estonia’s Kalev participated.
The tournament gained its current name only in 2002. That year, the Vladimir Kondrashin and Alexander Belov Basketball Development Foundation was established, which organized the tournament as a tribute to the outstanding coach and great player. A few years later, the cup was included in the official FIBA calendar, and national teams, including Russia’s, became participants. The competition was held annually until 2019.
Revival
Zenit, the St. Petersburg Basketball Federation, and the city's Committee for Physical Culture and Sports revived the cup in 2021. Alexandra Ovchinnikova, Alexander Belov's widow, noted that this tournament has always been an important event in the life of the city:
The revival of the Kondrashin and Belov Cup is a very pleasant event. This tournament is important to me because it preserves the memory of Sasha and Vladimir Kondrashin, who did so much for Leningrad and Soviet basketball. I believe that for all basketball fans living in St. Petersburg, this competition is also of great significance.
The participants in the Vladimir Kondrashin and Alexander Belov Cup that year, in addition to Zenit, included CSKA, Nizhny Novgorod, and Parma. After defeating Nizhny Novgorod in the semifinals, Xavier Pascual's team faced a decisive game against CSKA. Zenit emerged as the winner of the first edition of the revived tournament, claiming a convincing victory with a score of 100:73. Shabazz Napier was named the tournament's MVP, and Alex Poythress and Dmitry Kulagin were included in the all-tournament team.
2022 and 2023 Tournaments
Zenit went on to defend their title twice. The participants of the second edition of the cup included CSKA, Paris Nizhny Novgorod, and MBA (making its debut).
In the final of this tournament, CSKA and Zenit faced off again, just like the previous year. Once again, our team secured a confident victory (79:58). Caleb Homesley was named the tournament's MVP, and Thomas Wimbush made the all-tournament team.
On September 16, 2023, the blue-whites won the Vladimir Kondrashin and Alexander Belov Cup for the third consecutive time, defeating MBA in the semifinals and overcoming the reigning Russian champions, UNICS Kazan, in the final (82:77). As a result, the trophy remained in St. Petersburg. Second place went to Kazan, while Nizhny Novgorod took third, beating MBA in the bronze medal match.
The Kondrashin and Belov Cup on Zenit's 10th Anniversary
The Zenit basketball club turned 10 years old. The first serious test for the blue-white-light blues in this milestone season will traditionally be the Kondrashin and Belov Cup, which will be held on the court of the CSC Arena on September 5-6. In addition to the hosts, Pari Nizhny Novgorod, UNICS, and MBA-MAI will also participate in the tournament.
Game schedule:
5 September
16:30 — Semifinal: UNICS vs Pari Nizhny Novgorod
19:30 — Semifinal: Zenit vs MBA-MAI
6 September
16:30 — Third place Game
19:30 — Final
Tickets and mini-season passes can be purchased at tickets.bc-zenit.com.
