Anton Ponkrashov: biography of a basketball player-philanthropist

Anton Aleksandrovich Ponkrashov - professional basketball player of the club "UNICS". Champion of Europe (2007) and winner of several bronze medals from world championships. After a successful performance at the Olympics in 2012, he was awarded the title of "Honored Master of Sports".

Childhood

Anton Ponkrashov was born in Leningrad in 1986. The boy's parents were professional athletes. Father had the title of master of sports in rowing, basketball and swimming. And my mother was engaged exclusively in rowing. So the love of sport was instilled in Anton from childhood. Up to seven years, the boy was engaged only in swimming, but then switched to basketball. From 2001 to 2004, Ponkrashov Jr. played for the teams "Conti" and "Pulkovo" in St. Petersburg. In 2005, Anton was injured in the foot and was operated on. Restoration lasted one month. Despite this, Ponkrashova was recognized as the best young basketball player of the Russian Championship of the 2004/2005 season. Then the athlete was offered to move to the "Spartak" team, for which he played only 4 matches. Then the club started to have financial problems.

CSKA Moscow (2006-2007)

In 2006, Anton Ponkrashov signed a contract with CSKA Moscow and moved to Moscow. Despite the strong team, the basketball player was not lost on the court, showing a stable level of play. And in some championships, he held a leading position. Ponkrashov's game was unstable only in Euroleague matches. In 2007, CSKA sent him to a three-year lease in the BC Khimki.

Khimki (2007-2009)

In this team, Anton Ponkrashov immediately became a leading player. He particularly distinguished himself in the Euroleague match against the Pamés from Valencia. The athlete scored the decisive ball 3 seconds before the end of the game. Also the basketball player helped the team at the Cup of Russia in 2008. In the decisive match against the army team, he scored 16 points, thus ensuring Khimki's trophy victory.

CSKA Moscow (2009-2010)

After the expiration of the lease contract Anton Ponkrashov again returned to CSKA and immediately held a successful match against Olimpia in the Euroleague. The sportsman made 4 rebounds and scored 10 points. Despite a number of successful games, the coach did not include Ponkrashov in the main squad. Anton sat on the bench until the end of the contract. Then the basketball player signed a two-year agreement with Spartak.

Spartacus (2010-2011)

As soon as Anton came to the club's location, he was immediately invited to his head coach. Zvi Sherf suggested that Ponkrashov lead the team and become a link between the coach, the players and the club's management. The first three matches of the season made Anton the best player of the month, according to the readers of Sport-Express. On average, the athlete made 5 games for the game and scored 11 points. Toward the end of the season, Ponkrashov terminated his contract with Spartak and returned to CSKA. This was due to the fact that he was not offered long-term cooperation.

CSKA Moscow (2011-2012)

The head coach was glad to return to the team of the universal player. Although now Anton has a lot of new competitors. This is the star Milos Teodosich, as well as Alexey Shved and Jamont Gordon. In the first match of the VTB League against "Spartacus" Ponkrashov booed fans of his former team. Further matches the hero of this article spent mainly on the bench.

Charity

In addition to sports, there is one more direction, which Anton Ponkrashov deals with. The basketball player donates money to orphanages. This kind of activity the sportsman began to be engaged in 2011. Then Anton sent money to the children's home of the village of Velikoe (Yaroslavl region) to improve the living conditions of the pupils. Also Ponkrashov repaired the computer class of the institution. And the athlete periodically invites children to the basketball matches of his club. Anton takes an active part in various charity events.