Sergei Ivanov has passed away

Sergey Borisovich was a devoted CSKA fan who loved basketball with all his heart and devoted a great deal of time and energy to its development. He held the highest government positions, while enthusiastically and deeply participating in both our club's activities and the daily work of the VTB United League.

The players, coaches, and staff of the CSKA Professional Basketball Club sincerely mourn his loss and offer their condolences to the family and friends of Sergei Borisovich.

Andrey Vatutin, President of PBC CSKA:

Sergey Borisovich occupied a huge and important place in my life, and for me personally, this is a great loss. We spent over 20 years together, season after season, reaching numerous EuroLeague Final Fours and competing in the Russian National Team tournaments. Sergei Borisovich was a mentor, an older friend, and a critic for me, but after big victories or high-profile signings, I always knew the phone would ring in the morning and say, "Ivanov's office, connecting you with Sergei Borisovich..." And the conversation would end with his signature "say hello to everyone." They wouldn't call again... He didn't like to talk about personal achievements or emphasize his role in any of the team's accomplishments, even though he contributed incredibly much to the club's well-being. This is a private matter, but I understand perfectly well how much effort it took. Sergei Borisovich truly loved basketball and was incredibly dedicated to our game. Thanks to his care for CSKA, the team gave its fans so many positive emotions.

And overall, this is an irreparable loss for the entire country, which has lost an outstanding figure who accomplished countless good deeds in the highest positions. It's more correct to talk about basketball, and here we can confidently say: an entire era has passed with him, including CSKA's great victories on the international and domestic stage, the creation of the VTB League, and its transformation into one of the strongest and most respected European tournaments. He was always deeply immersed in every basketball issue, understood the game and management, stayed in touch, and readily stepped in to solve any problems that arose... Filling this void will be incredibly difficult. My sincere condolences to Sergei Borisovich's family and friends, and to everyone who personally knew this amazing man.

It's very hard for me to believe that our joint photos taken last Tuesday at the League Council meeting were our last... I'm sure the United League should name one of its trophies after him, thereby immortalizing the memory of its creator.

Semen Antonov, CSKA captain:

I first met Sergei Borisovich after the 2012 Olympics, when he presented awards to our team. Even then, I realized how much he loved basketball and how well he understood the game. He was one of our most powerful, authoritative, and influential fans, yet he remained successful in other areas, demonstrating the highest professionalism in all his government positions. We met many times after CSKA's major victories, talked, and saw how deeply he delved into all matters that affected him. Sergei Borisovich impressed us with his caliber and multifaceted personality. We will miss him greatly. On behalf of the entire team, I offer my deepest condolences to all his family and friends.