Legend of «Spartak»

Little history

Woman Basketball club «Spartak» (Moscow Region) was founded in 1949. David Berlin was the head coach. Now it is one of the most well-known clubs in Russia.

The team has won the very first prize in 1967, during the Games of the people of the USSR. The next sixteen years we won medals of various advantage in the Championship of the USSR eleven times:
— Gold in 1978 year;
— Silver in 1968,1969,1976,1979,1980,1981,1982;
— Bronze in 1970,1975,1977.
Also we took bronze of the championship of Russia in 1993 year.

In the same time «Spartak» played an appreciable role and in the European basketball, having won a cup of Lilian Ronketti (1977, 1981, 1982) for three times in five years.

2005—2007

In the same time «Spartak» played an appreciable role and in the European basketball, having won a cup of Lilian Ronketti (1977, 1981, 1982) for three times in five years. In season 2006—2007, for successful performance in Euroleague «Spartak» has in a greater degree strengthened team and trainer’s structure — Natalia Hejkova from Slovakia has been invited as the head coach, and among players there were such names as Tina Thompson, Diane Taurazi, Sue Bird, Svetlana Abrosimova, Loren Jackson. The general efforts and eagerness to a victory were not gone in vain season 2006—2007 for the club was triumphal. Red-whites have also won Euroleague, the championship of Russia. And in the second case gaining the victory was even more difficult. Overthrowing the invincible throughout three previous years Samara’s club Volgaburmash (VBM-SGAU) was done thanks to high-grade structure and high quality basketball players, a trainer’s staff and high level administrative management of our team. All listed as a whole has given the chance to us to pass a way from start to victorious finish.

2007—2008

Spartak and CSKA have passed the regular championship of Russia on one breath, having lost only each other on a visit. In other twenty games Spartak invariably celebrated success. For «Spartak» the first match of a final series has turned out, alas, discouraging — CSKA has won in Vidnoje with 90:71 score. In the second match which has taken place next day, red-whites have shown the real game — 93:78.

«Before a decisive game with CSKA the governor of Moscow region of Gromov Boris has sent a telegramme in which he wrote that despite the future result he thanks all players for an excellent season. As a result — girls were liberated, and the fourth match of finals was played at the fantastic level.»

In a high spirit we simply grind competitors from a parquet in Moscow. It seemed, that advantage is on CSKA’s side, but verything went visa versa — CSKA had lost in both games (the last — with 63:101score). A big part of the victory belongs to the governor of Moscow Region Boris Vsevolodovich Gromov.

	In «The Finals of eight»of Cup of Russia everything was absolutely different. In semifinal fight against an army team, «Spartak» has conceded – 71:62. Our girls have converged in struggle for bronze against Moscow team. The superiority in class has allowed «Spartak» to finish a play to a logic end — 83:70. Thus, bronze of the Cup of Russia went to Vidnoje.
	The second year «Spartak» successively has won the most prestigious basketball club tournament of Europe. In sports palace in Brno wards of Natalia Hejkova have won in a final game against Czech’s «Gambrinus».

«As the result, so-called “governor’s team” have done a “gold double” never reached before.»

In 1/8of final play-off «Spartak» in two games has surpassed Lithuanian «ТЕО Vilnius», and in ¹ ⁄₂ Dinamo’s players weren’t a problem at all. Spartak was waiting a game with CSKA, but Ekaterinburg has broken a barrier and entered «the final four. However «foxes» as a result were enjoying only the 3rd place «a consolatory match» against French «Bourge». Our girls have won and proved to all Europe that a double win is matter of the highest skill.

2008—2009

WBC «Spartak» has invited to a post of the head coach the Hungarian expert — Laslo Radgeber. In the Championship of Russia, after the victory over CSKA, our team on a home straight met with Ekaterinburgh’s UMMC. The first fight passed on a parquet of foxes that resulted in unpleasant for Spartak score– 61:59. However, our team has found the worthy answer at home – 86:67. Once again – back to Ekaterinburgh. In additional five-minute, UMMC with extreme effort has won celebrated a victory in the Championship of Russia – 70:68.

В Чемпионате России, обыграв в полуфинальной серии ЦСКА, наша команда на финишной прямой встретилась с екатеринбургским УГМК. Первый бой проходил на паркете лисиц, которые в труднейшей концовке вырвали победу из рук Спартака – 61:59. Однако, наша команда нашла достойный ответ в родных стенах, переиграв, подопечных Ветры – 86:67. Все решилось в Екатеринбурге... В дополнительной пятиминутке, УГМК неимоверными усилиями одержал верх над красно-белыми и праздновал викторию в Чемпионате России – 70:68.

The fortune has turned away from us during the Cup of Russia too. In the first match our girls have played with a Kursk’s Dynamo and have gained the first victory – 101:66. For an entering the finals we struggled against Spartak and pulled the victory – 72:61. Only one barrier separated us from the Cup – owners of a parquet. And in dramatic game UMMC have won — 70:64. The cup of Russia remained in Ekaterinburgh.

The way to the final four for Spartak in this season has appeared super hard. After victory in the game against Spanish Ros Kasares, we have conceded the second game in Valencia. However, Kasares was beaten in the third game (79: 70). We are in the final four! In the Spanish Salamanca in a semifinal match we faced the UMMC. After a victory with 83:74 score, Spartak has reached the final game with Avenida. Changes in structure and the hometown have allowed Spaniards to reach the new level, however for a victory over the indisputable European leader of two last years all this didn’t worked out. Basketball players from Vidnoje have won again the most prestigious title – Euroleague FIBA 2008–2009.