In May 2012, all the PBL clubs gathered to decide which format would be used for the next season, and some of the club's directors raised the possibility of uniting with the VTB United League, in order to produce greater competition between the Russian basketball clubs.
[1][2][3] In July 2012, the Council of VTB United League gave a definitive decision.
It was decided that the PBL league would continue for one more year, with some of the games of the VTB United League that took place between two Russian clubs being counted as PBL games.
[4] The first tier Russian clubs then replaced the PBL with the VTB United League as their new national domestic league championship, starting with the 2013–14 season.
The team that finished first in the regular season standings was declared the league's champions.