The Moscow Basketball Association has opened a new season at the National Centre RUSSIA

On 28 September, the grand opening of the new season by the Moscow Basketball Association (MBA) professional basketball club took place at the National Centre RUSSIA. Players, coaches, sports legends, partners and the club's management gathered under one roof to recall the best moments from the athletes' history and set the development vector for the coming year.

Viktor Dvurechenskikh, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the MBA club, explained the symbolic choice of a venue for the start of the season. 

Photo: Press Office of the National Centre RUSSIA

"It is not by chance that we gathered at the National Centre RUSSIA. This is a place of strength, and we need strength for the new season. Everything here is filled with pride for the country, love for our Motherland. Besides, I would also like to stress that the choice of the National Centre was not accidental, because those who stood at the origins of the club are all patriots of Russia," Viktor Dvurechenskikh said.

He also revealed the philosophy of the club's motto "Nobody but us", which is "borrowed" from the Russian Airborne Forces: "When we started this project, this slogan was presented at all our competitions. But that's not because we boasted that we were the best. We just decided then that no one but us would change the mentality of those who believe that only foreign coaches and players can achieve something. We know for sure that Russian players are the best in the world because they love their homeland. I am proud of our club's successes, I have witnessed them all, and due to these successes we know for sure that we are on the right track."

Alexander Novozhilov, President of the Moscow Basketball Federation, noted the unique role of the MBA club. 

Photo: Press Office of the National Centre RUSSIA

"The MBA was created with the purpose so that Moscow athletes and our graduates could play exactly for this club. Then it seemed unreal compared to the teams with foreign players. But now it's history, the club is showing decent results. You're doing a great job. Thank you very much for your patience, hard work and the quality of the tremendous work that you are doing," Alexander Novozhilov addressed the MBA management and coaching staff.

Tatyana Kocharyan, President of the MBA club and Honored Master of Sports, shared the story of her development as the head of the club and announced the theme of the new season. 

Photo: Press Office of the National Centre RUSSIA

"When I finished my professional basketball career and put my sneakers away, I was one hundred percent sure that my basketball story was over and I was opening the doors to a new life. But it so happened that Viktor Alexandrovich voiced an idea of creating this club, and it was impossible not to believe in it, and every year I believe in the success of our club more and more. Russian style is the theme of our new season, so I wish the team to take advantage of the best features of the Russian character — fortitude and the will to win, and, of course, may luck accompany you throughout the season,"  Tatyana Kocharyan said. 

Photo: Press Office of the National Centre RUSSIA

Speaking of the results achieved and the prospects for the development of the MBA, Igor Kocharyan, the club's Director General, stressed: "The path has not been easy, but we have gone it with dignity and, most importantly, we are not going to stop there. Thanks to the full support received from our beloved Moscow, we have gained stability which inspires and gives energy to move on."

The ceremony was also attended by Rais Chiglikov, Head of the Moscow Department of Housing and Communal Services, President of the "Avtodor" Basketball Club; Alexei Belyaev, Head of the Moscow Department of Capital Repairs; Tatyana Masyagina, Rector of the Moscow State University of Sports and Tourism; Dmitry Yashchenko, Director of the Moscow Basketball Academy; and Yevgeny Gomelsky, Honored Coach of the USSR, Olympic champion, member of the FIBA Hall of Fame.

During the ceremony, the guests watched a promotional video of the new 2025/26 season and stories about the club's biggest victories. By tradition, the team's new members were introduced to the public. There was also an official awarding of the women's and men's teams — the winners of the Russian 3x3 Cup and other competitions.