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 Roberts Zeile.

Valmiera Glass ViA
DivisionLBL 3 (2011–2012)
LBL 2 (2012–2018)
LeaguesLatvian Basketball League (2011–2018)
Latvian–Estonian Basketball League (2018–present)
Founded2011
ArenaVidzeme Olympic Center
Capacity1500
LocationValmiera, Latvia
Team colorsBlack, Green, White
     
Head coachRobers Zeile
Websitewww.vgvia.lv/basketbols/

History

The club was founded in 2009 as a student club of Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (Vidzemes Augstskola). 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 team and become focal point in teams 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]

Roster

Current roster
Valmiera Glass ViA roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.Wt.Age
PG 3 Elksnis, Edmunds 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) 88 kg (194 lb) 30 – (1990-07-02)2 July 1990
SF 4 Apsitis, Karlis 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 88 kg (194 lb) 28 – (1992-11-19)19 November 1992
PF 6 Jonats, Ervins 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 102 kg (225 lb) 29 – (1991-02-10)10 February 1991
C 9 Dubults, Klāvs 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) 97 kg (214 lb) 26 – (1994-08-16)16 August 1994
SG 15 Vēveris, Valters 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 80 kg (176 lb) 20 – (2000-04-21)21 April 2000
PG 20 Salenieks, Niks 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 75 kg (165 lb) 21 – (2000-01-15)15 January 2000
PG 21 Stašāns, Raimonds 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 81 kg (179 lb) 18 – (2002-08-30)30 August 2002
PF 22 Engers, Jānis 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) 101 kg (223 lb) 25 – (1995-02-20)20 February 1995
SG 23 Greitans, Ričards 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 86 kg (190 lb) 19 – (2001-12-11)11 December 2001
SF 24 Liepiņš, Valters 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 87 kg (192 lb) 22 – (1998-12-10)10 December 1998
PG 30 Elksnītis, Kristers 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 80 kg (176 lb) 20 – (2000-05-15)15 May 2000
PF 88 Ziediņš, Māris 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) 100 kg (220 lb) 30 – (1990-03-24)24 March 1990
Head coach
  • Roberts Zeile
Assistant coach(es)
  • Sandis Amoliņš
  • Oskars Virsis
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured
Updated: 7 February 2021

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

Season by season
Season League Regular
season		 Playoffs Notes
2011–12 LBL 3 2nd[7] Champion[4][7] promoted to LBL 2
2012–13 LBL 2 8th[8] QF[8]
2013–14 LBL 2 8th[9] lost in play-in series for QF[9]
2014–15 LBL 2 5th[10] QF[10]
2015–16 LBL 2 1st[11] QF[11]
2016–17 LBL 2 4th[12] Runner-up[12]
2017–18 LBL 2 5th[13] 4th[5][13] promoted to LatEstBL
2018–19 LatEstBL 12th overall[14]
(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

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. "LBL3_2011-2012 Basketball League LATVIA - eurobasket". www.eurobasket.com. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  8. "LBL2_2012-2013 Basketball League LATVIA - eurobasket". www.eurobasket.com. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  9. "LBL2_2013-2014 Basketball League LATVIA - eurobasket". www.eurobasket.com. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  10. "LBL2_2014-2015 Basketball League LATVIA - eurobasket". www.eurobasket.com. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  11. "LBL2_2015-2016 Basketball League LATVIA - eurobasket". www.eurobasket.com. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  12. "LBL2_2016-2017 Basketball League LATVIA - eurobasket". www.eurobasket.com. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  13. "LBL2_2017-2018 Basketball League LATVIA - eurobasket". www.eurobasket.com. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  14. "Standings". www.estlatbl.com. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
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