Valmiera Glass Via (basketball)

Valmiera Glass ViA
Valmiera Glass ViA logo
LeaguesLatvian Basketball League
Latvian–Estonian Basketball League
Founded2011
ArenaVidzeme Olympic Center
Capacity1500
LocationValmiera, Latvia
Team colorsBlack, Green, White
     
Team managerRoberts Zeile
Head coachKaspars Vecvagars
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 the student team of Vidzeme University. It debuted in 2011 in the Latvian Basketball League's Third Division (LBL3) 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 the Second Division (LBL2). 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 the second division bronze medal series to BK Gulbenes Buki, finishing in fourth place, but due to the bankruptcy of Valmiera city rival club Valmiera/Ordo Valmiera Glass ViA was promoted to newly founded Latvian–Estonian Basketball League.

Before the 2018/2019 season, professional Valmiera basketball players Jānis Kaufmanis, Edmunds Elksnis and Māris Ziediņš joined Valmiera Glass ViA. In the 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 LBL 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 prominent Latvian national team players and brothers Dairis Bertāns and Dāvis Bertāns have become members of the club board. The club has a strong bond with Bertāns' Basketball School in Valmiera.[7]

Roster

Current roster

Valmiera Glass ViA 2025-26 roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Wt. Age
SG 6 Latvia Ozers, Dāvis 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 88 kg (194 lb) 21 – (2004-03-28)28 March 2004
SF 9 Latvia Ate, Artis 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 88 kg (194 lb) 36 – (1989-07-29)29 July 1989
PF 12 Latvia Kohs, Verners 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 93 kg (205 lb) 28 – (1997-05-21)21 May 1997
C 29 Bosnia and Herzegovina Pajić, Omar 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 85 kg (187 lb) 25 – (1999-08-24)24 August 1999
PG 3 Lithuania Stenionis, Dominykas 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) 75 kg (165 lb) 23 – (2002-07-03)3 July 2002
C 1 Ukraine Dziuba, Pavlo 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 109 kg (240 lb) 22 – (2003-07-03)3 July 2003
PG Latvia Vītols, Mārcis 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 87 kg (192 lb) 33 – (1992-05-02)2 May 1992
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
  • Latvia Gunārs Gailītis
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured Injured
Updated: August 15, 2025

Depth chart

Pos. Starting 5 Bench
C Omar Pajič Pavlo Dziuba
PF Verners Kohs
SF Artis Ate
SG Dāvis Ozers
PG Mārcis Vītols Daminykas Stenionis

Squad changes for the 2025–26 season

Historical rosters

2024/2025 season roster
Pos. Starting 5 Bench 1 Bench 2
C Ukraine #15 Rostyslav Novitskyi United States #2 Kahliel Spear
PF Latvia #12 Verners Kohs Latvia #7 Ervīns Jonāns United States #31 Frankie Policelli
SF Latvia #9 Artis Ate Latvia #5 Ričards Liberts Latvia #22 Markuss Sipko
SG Latvia #3 Edmunds Elksnis C Latvia #27 Ojārs Bērziņš Latvia #6 Dāvis Ozers
PG United States #1 Daquan Smith Latvia #0 Kristofers Karlsons Canada #4 Michael Abiodun Nuga

Retired numbers

Retired numbers of Valmiera basketball
No. Player Position Tenure Ceremony date
8 Latvia Dainis Bertāns C 1992–2004 08/01/2014 [8]
11 Latvia Sandis Amoliņš SG 1997–2014 07/03/2020 [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 		0-5 in ENBL, 6th place
2022–23 LatEstBL 15th overall
(6th in Latvian) 		DNQ in League Playoff
QF in Latvian Playoffs 		0-7 in ENBL, 15th place
2023–24 LatEstBL 13th overall
(6th in Latvian) 		DNQ in League Playoff
QF in Latvian Playoffs 		0-7 in ENBL, 16th place

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. ^ a b c d "Sport and activities at Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences". Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences. Archived from the original on 2022-06-30. Retrieved 2019-06-07.
  4. ^ a b "BK "Vidzemes Augstskola" izcīna LBL3 čempiona titulu". Sportacentrs.com (in Latvian). 10 May 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  5. ^ a b ""Valmiera Glass/ViA" izskatīs iespēju spēlēt LBL 1. divīzijā". Sportacentrs.com (in Latvian). 4 July 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  6. ^ a b c "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. ^ a b "LBL3_2011-2012 Basketball League LATVIA - eurobasket". www.eurobasket.com. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  11. ^ a b "LBL2_2012-2013 Basketball League LATVIA - eurobasket". www.eurobasket.com. Archived from the original on May 28, 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  12. ^ a b "LBL2_2013-2014 Basketball League LATVIA - eurobasket". www.eurobasket.com. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  13. ^ a b "LBL2_2014-2015 Basketball League LATVIA - eurobasket". www.eurobasket.com. Archived from the original on September 4, 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  14. ^ a b "LBL2_2015-2016 Basketball League LATVIA - eurobasket". www.eurobasket.com. Archived from the original on September 21, 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  15. ^ a b "LBL2_2016-2017 Basketball League LATVIA - eurobasket". www.eurobasket.com. Archived from the original on July 13, 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  16. ^ a b "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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