Valmiera Glass Via (basketball)

Valmiera Glass Vidzemes Augstskola (Valmiera Glass ViA, also stylized Valmiera Glass/ViA) is a basketball club based in Valmiera, Latvia, playing in the Latvian–Estonian Basketball League.[1] Originally a student club of Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (Vidzemes Augstskola), Valmiera started playing in the Latvian Basketball League's third division in 2011, and expanded its roster to include semi-professional and fully professional players. In 2018, the team was promoted to the Latvian–Estonian Basketball League, the newly formed combined top basketball division of Latvia and Estonia, after bankruptcy of the former Latvian champion club Valmiera/Ordo.[2] The head coach of Valmiera Glass ViA is Lithuanian Tomas Keršis.

Valmiera Glass ViA
Valmiera Glass ViA logo
LeaguesLatvian Basketball League
Latvian–Estonian Basketball League
ENBL
Founded2011
ArenaVidzeme Olympic Center
Capacity1500
LocationValmiera, Latvia
Team colorsBlack, Green, White
     
Team managerRoberts Zeile
Head coachOskars Virsis
Websitewww.vgvia.lv

History

The club was founded in 2009 as a student club of Vidzeme University. It debuted in 2011 in the Latvian Basketball League's third division as Vidzemes Augstskola.[3] With Roberts Zeile as player coach and Sandis Amoliņš in roster, the team won the division championship in spring of 2012[4][3] and was promoted to second division. In 2012, Oto Grīnbergs joined the team and became focal point in team's offence, managing to be leading scorer for next five seasons.

In 2014, the team began a partnership with Valmiera Fibreglass and played as "Vidzemes Augstskola/Valmiera Glass". It had also established a farm team "Vidzemes Augstskola/Valmiera Glass-2" which played in LBL's third division.[3] In 2016, the football club Valmieras FK and the basketball club were brought together under the organization name "SO Valmiera Glass / Vidzemes Augstskola" or "Valmiera Glass ViA".[3]

Gradually, the club rose in second division rankings, and made a finals appearance in 2017, where they lost to BK Jelgava. That sparked discussion of Valmiera Glass ViA joining the Latvian Basketball League's highest division.[5] In 2018 Valmiera Glass ViA lost second division bronze medal series to BK Gulbenes Buki, finishing in fourth place, but due to Valmiera city rival club Valmiera/Ordo bankruptcy Valmiera Glass ViA was promoted to newly founded Latvian–Estonian Basketball League.

Before 2018/2019 season professional Valmiera basketball players Jānis Kaufmanis, Edmunds Elksnis and Māris Ziediņš joined Valmiera Glass ViA. In regular season, the team's record was 8-20, finishing 12th place overall and 6th among Latvian teams. Although it missed the Latvian-Estonian playoffs, the team qualified for the Latvian playoffs and played in the quarterfinal series against BK Ogre, where they lost the series 0-3.[6]

In the summer of 2022, club announced that famous Latvian national team players and brothers Dairis Bertāns and Dāvis Bertāns have become members of the board. Club has a strong bond with Bertans' Basketball School in the city of Valmiera.[7]

Roster

Current roster
Valmiera Glass ViA roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.Wt.Age
PG 0 Latvia Karlsons, Kristofers 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 80 kg (176 lb) 19 – (2004-03-21)21 March 2004
PG 1 Latvia Zariņš, Markuss 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 76 kg (168 lb) 18 – (2005-02-20)20 February 2005
C 2 Australia Gak, Deng 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 100 kg (220 lb) 25 – (1998-05-12)12 May 1998
F 3 Lithuania Vaičiūnas, Tadas Injured 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) 92 kg (203 lb) 24 – (1999-04-21)21 April 1999
SF 5 Latvia Liberts, Ričards Nils 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 90 kg (198 lb) 17 – (2005-09-30)30 September 2005
PG 6 Latvia Zvīnis, Markuss 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 87 kg (192 lb) 18 – (2005-04-26)26 April 2005
SF 7 United States McCall, Justin 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 95 kg (209 lb) 23 – (1999-09-26)26 September 1999
PG 12 Latvia Salenieks, Niks 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 75 kg (165 lb) 23 – (2000-01-15)15 January 2000
SF 13 Bosnia and Herzegovina Zrno, Harun 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 95 kg (209 lb) 19 – (2004-03-01)1 March 2004
C 14 United States Beck, Tervell 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 104 kg (229 lb) 25 – (1997-12-17)17 December 1997
SG 15 Latvia Vēveris, Valters 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 80 kg (176 lb) 23 – (2000-04-21)21 April 2000
SG 23 Latvia Greitans, Ričards 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 86 kg (190 lb) 21 – (2001-12-11)11 December 2001
SG 24 Latvia Kaufmanis, Edgars 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 88 kg (194 lb) 24 – (1999-01-01)1 January 1999
PG 25 Latvia Vēveris, Roberts 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) 78 kg (172 lb) 18 – (2004-06-15)15 June 2004
PG 30 Latvia Elksnītis, Kristers 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 80 kg (176 lb) 23 – (2000-05-15)15 May 2000
C 33 Ukraine Tokavenko, Ivan 2.12 m (6 ft 11 in) 109 kg (240 lb) 19 – (2004-05-10)10 May 2004
Head coach
  • Latvia Oskars Virsis
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured Injured
Updated: 12 March 2023

Depth chart
Pos. Starting 5 Bench 1 Bench 2 Reserve
C Tervell Beck Deng Matur Gak Ivan Tokavenko
PF Tadas Vaičiūnas Justin McCall
SF Valters Vēveris Harun Zrno Ričards Liberts Roberts Vēveris
SG Edgars Kaufmanis Ričards Greitāns Markuss Zariņš
PG Niks Salenieks Kristofers Karlsons Markuss Zvīnis Kristers Elksnītis

Retired numbers
Retired numbers of Valmiera basketball
No. Player Position Tenure Ceremony date
8Latvia Dainis BertānsC1992–200408/01/2014 [8]
11Latvia Sandis AmoliņšSG1997–201407/03/2020 [9]

Season by season
Season League Regular
season		 Playoffs Notes
2011–12 LBL 3 2nd[10] Champion[4][10] promoted to LBL 2
2012–13 LBL 2 8th[11] QF[11]
2013–14 LBL 2 8th[12] lost in play-in series for QF[12]
2014–15 LBL 2 5th[13] QF[13]
2015–16 LBL 2 1st[14] QF[14]
2016–17 LBL 2 4th[15] Runner-up[15]
2017–18 LBL 2 5th[16] 4th[5][16] promoted to LatEstBL
2018–19 LatEstBL 12th overall[17]
(6th in Latvian)[6]		 DNQ in League Playoff
QF in Latvian Playoff[6]
2019–20 LatEstBL 11th overall
(5th in Latvian)		 Did not happen due to COVID-19 pandemic
2020–21 LatEstBL 11th overall
(5th in Latvian)		 DNQ in League Playoff
QF in Latvian Playoff
2021–22 LatEstBL 10th overall
(4th in Latvian)		 DNQ in League Playoff
QF in Latvian Playoffs
2022–23 LatEstBL 15th overall
(6th in Latvian)		 DNQ in League Playoff
QF in Latvian Playoffs

Notable players

See also

References
  1. "Latvijas un Igaunijas līgā iekļauj "Valmieru Glass/ ViA", Ķekavu noraida, Jēkabpili gaida". Sportacentrs.com (in Latvian). 9 August 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  2. ""Valmiera/Ordo" nepiedalīsies arī LBL3 un nākamo sezonu izlaidīs". Sportacentrs.com (in Latvian). 9 August 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  3. "Sport and activities at Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences". Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences. Retrieved 2019-06-07.
  4. "BK "Vidzemes Augstskola" izcīna LBL3 čempiona titulu". Sportacentrs.com (in Latvian). 10 May 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  5. ""Valmiera Glass/ViA" izskatīs iespēju spēlēt LBL 1. divīzijā". Sportacentrs.com (in Latvian). 4 July 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  6. "LATVIAN-ESTONIAN_2018-2019 Basketball League LATVIA - eurobasket". www.eurobasket.com. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  7. "Par komandas galveno treneri kļūst lietuvietis Keršis, valdei pievienojas brāļi Bertāni".
  8. https://www.valmiera.lv/lv/jaunumi/sporta_zinas/8963_bk_valmiera_a_kaufmana_un_d_bertana_godinasanas_spele_piekapjas_bk_ventspils/
  9. https://www.valmiera.lv/lv/jaunumi/sporta_zinas/22743_sestdien_pret_ventspili_laukuma_dosies_valmieras_basketbola_legenda_sandis_amolins
  10. "LBL3_2011-2012 Basketball League LATVIA - eurobasket". www.eurobasket.com. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  11. "LBL2_2012-2013 Basketball League LATVIA - eurobasket". www.eurobasket.com. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  12. "LBL2_2013-2014 Basketball League LATVIA - eurobasket". www.eurobasket.com. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  13. "LBL2_2014-2015 Basketball League LATVIA - eurobasket". www.eurobasket.com. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  14. "LBL2_2015-2016 Basketball League LATVIA - eurobasket". www.eurobasket.com. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  15. "LBL2_2016-2017 Basketball League LATVIA - eurobasket". www.eurobasket.com. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  16. "LBL2_2017-2018 Basketball League LATVIA - eurobasket". www.eurobasket.com. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  17. "Standings". www.estlatbl.com. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
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