Year 2001. It was the first year of new century and first year of a new team.
The date of birth of basketball club "CONTI" is truly significant. You see to be establish at the edge of new epoch, including basketball, - signifies to declare the intention become not simply ordinary team, but to be very successful team.
All began from “JackPot” basketball team composed from the veterans of the Petersburg basketball. The idea it of creation belonged to Igor Gorbenko - the president of the company "Conti Group". Within some months after emerging of  “JackPot“ our Petersburg command have won in world championship in its category. Then was decided to keep up and to create professional club, which will adequately represent our city on Russian and European arenas. But, using   experience of another's mistakes, the chiefs of club were not rushing forward but have were gradually developing the team.
At the first year “Conti Group” team has demonstrated a perfect potential in a Russian championship. For a season conducted in the First league, the petersburgers have got only three defeats. Sometimes it was necessary to play five matches per week. Experienced players as Andrey Potapov, Igor Pahodnya, Nikolay Gerasimenko participated in plays. Playing trainer Gennadiy Shchetinin headed the team.
But in the following season Gennadiy Shchetinin completely switched to trainer's work, as there was serious problem – possibility to play in “B” battalion of Superleague. Anatoliy Shteinbock, Yuri Khoroshaev and Gennadiy Shchetinin made up trainer's headquarters. The director of club Vasiliy Sorokin undertook all organizational problems. In the same time the club has received the present title – “CONTI”.
There were modifications in the structure of team. Talented young players were added to the team. During a season well known St. Petersburg basketball player – Andrey Dolopchi has joined he team.
And again from the very beginning of tournament of Supreme league "Conti" has shown itself as the main claimant for a victory. Almost at once having seized lead, our command and has not returned it up to the final of a championship. It necessary to tell how about “CONTI” played in a Cup of Russia tournament. For the first time Petersburg club could meet the representatives of Super league. Tula "Arsenal" and Krasnoyarsk "Yenisei" have lost to our command with a great difference. But we were conceded by Moscow "Khimki". That team was not included in a quad of strongest teams of Russia on that moment. Nevertheless, the contender had to apply all forces for a victory. And who knows, how there would be those matches, if our command had experience of such meetings.

Anyways, “CONTI” could provoke, that we are ready to enter the elite of Russian basketball. The young command cannot brag of a rich history yet. But “CONTI” basketball club is going to be proud first of all of victories. We have a good luck for now!
 
Stanislav Fedorov