MBA basketball club opens new season at the National Centre RUSSIA
On 16 September, the National Centre RUSSIA hosted the official opening of the new season of the professional basketball club Moscow Basketball Association. For the second year running, the venue has hosted the club's season-opening event, bringing together all teams within the MBA system, as well as friends, partners, executives, representatives of sports schools and legends of Russian basketball.
The teams received words of encouragement from Sergei Kushchenko, President of the VTB United League; Viktor Dvurechenskikh, Chairman of the MBA Board of Trustees; Yevgeny Gomelsky, Olympic champion and member of the FIBA Hall of Fame; Alexander Novozhilov, President of the Moscow Basketball Federation; Dmitry Yashchenko, Director of the Moscow Basketball Academy; Natalia Masyagina, Rector of Moscow State University of Sport and Tourism; Tatyana Kocharyan, President of PBC MBA; and Igor Kocharyan, Director General of the club.
"It is symbolic that MBA is opening its season at the National Centre RUSSIA. After the official part, all guests were able to join a guided tour — this reflects the philosophy the club chose 13 years ago. MBA remains true to itself — just look at the warm atmosphere at this event, the sincere faces and heartfelt words. Nobody is reading from a script — everything is genuine. The MBA management is pursuing an unusual approach that is greatly appreciated by both the VTB United League and many others," said Sergei Kushchenko.
As part of the official event, guests saw the premiere of a promotional video for the 2026/27 season, welcomed newcomers to the PBC MBA first teams, recognised teams that distinguished themselves last season and, after the official programme, were able to join a guided tour of the National Centre RUSSIA exposition.
"Thirteen years ago, we declared that we would play only with our own players and win only with our own players. Not everyone believed in these principles, but we remained confident in the path we had chosen. It is important to the Mayor of Moscow, Sergei Sobyanin, that not only professional sport develops, but that the club also lives the life of the city," said Viktor Dvurechenskikh.
PBC MBA President Tatyana Kocharyan noted that the National Centre RUSSIA is a landmark venue in the country's capital. According to her, the PBC MBA season opening has been held here for the second year running, and the venue is becoming a true place of strength for the club.
"The season opening is a traditional event for our club. It is very important to come together before the upcoming season, look one another in the eye and see the scale of our club. MBA is the largest basketball project in the country. A meeting like this gives us a positive boost ahead of the start of official tournaments," added Igor Kocharyan.
On 28 September 2025, the National Centre RUSSIA hosted the official opening of the professional basketball club Moscow Basketball Association season. At the time, players, coaches, sports legends, partners and club executives gathered under one roof to look back at the best moments in the athletes' history.
The new episode of the National Centre RUSSIA Open Dialogue podcast explores key questions of the digital age: who owns AI and data.
