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

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.

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
SG 2 Latvia Miglinieks, Pauls 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 84 kg (185 lb) 23 – (2000-10-02)2 October 2000
PG 3 Latvia Elksnis, Edmunds 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 85 kg (187 lb) 33 – (1990-11-19)19 November 1990
G 5 Latvia Kaufmanis, Jānis 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 85 kg (187 lb) 34 – (1989-10-03)3 October 1989
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 16 Ukraine Tokovenko, Ivan 2.12 m (6 ft 11 in) 109 kg (240 lb) 19 – (2004-05-10)10 May 2004
SG 17 United States Knight, Seneca 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 95 kg (209 lb) 23 – (2000-03-31)31 March 2000
G 23 Latvia Greitāns, Ričards 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) 88 kg (194 lb) 22 – (2001-12-10)10 December 2001
G 29 Latvia Katlaps, Pauls 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) 17 – (2006-03-12)12 March 2006
C 31 Slovakia Zeliznak, Maros 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) 120 kg (265 lb) 24 – (1999-02-15)15 February 1999
PF 33 Latvia Sīpoliņš, Guntis 2.07 m (6 ft 9 in) 102 kg (225 lb) 30 – (1993-11-10)10 November 1993
PF 35 United States Cherry, Taeshon 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 102 kg (225 lb) 24 – (1999-12-14)14 December 1999
Head coach
  • Latvia Oskars Virsis
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured Injured
Updated: 21 October 2023

Depth chart

Pos. Starting 5 Bench 1 Bench 2
C Maros Zeliznak Ivan Tokovenko
PF Guntis Sīpoliņš Taeshon Cherry
SF Seneca Knight Harun Zrno Ričards Greitāns
SG Jānis Kaufmanis Pauls Miglinieks Pauls Katlaps
PG Edmunds Elksnis Kristofers Karlsons

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. 1 2 3 4 "Sport and activities at Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences". Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences. Retrieved 2019-06-07.
  4. 1 2 "BK "Vidzemes Augstskola" izcīna LBL3 čempiona titulu". Sportacentrs.com (in Latvian). 10 May 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  5. 1 2 ""Valmiera Glass/ViA" izskatīs iespēju spēlēt LBL 1. divīzijā". Sportacentrs.com (in Latvian). 4 July 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  6. 1 2 3 "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. 1 2 "LBL3_2011-2012 Basketball League LATVIA - eurobasket". www.eurobasket.com. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  11. 1 2 "LBL2_2012-2013 Basketball League LATVIA - eurobasket". www.eurobasket.com. Archived from the original on May 28, 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  12. 1 2 "LBL2_2013-2014 Basketball League LATVIA - eurobasket". www.eurobasket.com. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  13. 1 2 "LBL2_2014-2015 Basketball League LATVIA - eurobasket". www.eurobasket.com. Archived from the original on September 4, 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  14. 1 2 "LBL2_2015-2016 Basketball League LATVIA - eurobasket". www.eurobasket.com. Archived from the original on September 21, 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  15. 1 2 "LBL2_2016-2017 Basketball League LATVIA - eurobasket". www.eurobasket.com. Archived from the original on July 13, 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  16. 1 2 "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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