BK Ventspils

BK Ventspils
Leagues LBL
Baltic League
Eurocup
Founded 1994
History 1994 – Present
Arena Ventspils Olympic Center
(capacity: 3,085)
Location Ventspils, Latvia
Team colors Yellow and Blue
         
President Aivars Lembergs
Head coach Roberts Štelmahers
Championships Latvian Championships: (9)
2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2014
BBL Championships: (1)
2013
Website bkventspils.lv
Uniforms
Home
Away

BK Ventspils is a professional basketball club that is located in Ventspils, Latvia. The club competes in the Latvian Basketball League (LBL), the Baltic Basketball League (BBL) and the ULEB Eurocup.

History

BK Ventspils was founded in 1994. In first years Ventspils proved themselves as relevant part of Latvian basketball, but major step came in 1997 when Ventspils Olympic Center was built. At that time Ventspils started to play in international competitions playing in 1997-98 edition of Korać Cup, which was followed by playing in Saporta Cup. Meanwhile in the Latvian League Ventspils reached finals in both 1998 and 1999, but in 2000 they won their first domestic title and then went on to win seven consecutive from 2000 to 2006. The team won its eight Latvian League championship in 2009.[1]

During that championship run Ventspils also had great performances in European competitions. In the 2002-03 season Ventspils reached FIBA Champions Cup Final Four, where they finished third. In the 2003-04 season Ventspils debuted in the ULEB Cup competition, making Eighth-finals. In 2004-05 ULEB Cup season Ventspils reached new heights and missed Semi-finals after losing by one point in two game series against KK Hemofarm. Before the 2009-10 season Ventspils participated in Euroleague Qualifying round, becoming the first Latvian team to do it.

Ventspils has been place for many players to establish themselves on European stage such as Mire Chatman, Marijonas Petravičius, Jānis Blūms, Brent Wright and others, who later had successful careers on Euroleague level.

In 2013, BK Ventspils became the first Latvian club to have won the Baltic Basketball League after winning the first leg with 69:91[2] and losing the second by just 70:73[3] in the finals against BC Prienai from Lithuania. In the following season BK Ventspils won their first Latvian league title since 2009 becoming champions of 2014 Latvian Basketball League campaign.

Honours

League

Winners (9): 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2014
Runners-up (5): 1998, 1999, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013
Bronze (3): 1996, 2008, 2010
Winners (1): 2013
Runners-up (0):
Bronze (1): 2007
Bronze (1): 2003

Roster

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.

BK Ventspils roster
Players Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Ht. Wt. Age
F 7 United States Troy Marshall Barnies 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) 100 kg (220 lb) 26 – 10 February 1989
G 8 Latvia Dāvis Lejasmeiers 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) 84 kg (185 lb) 24 – 8 April 1991
SG 12 Latvia Kristaps Kanbergs 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 88 kg (194 lb) 27 – 22 February 1988
F 13 Latvia Akselis Vairogs (C) 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 91 kg (201 lb) 29 – 8 November 1985
F 14 Latvia Kristaps Janičenoks 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 93 kg (205 lb) 32 – 14 March 1983
F 15 Latvia Artis Ate 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) 88 kg (194 lb) 25 – 29 July 1989
F/C 21 Latvia Artjoms Butjankovs 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) 100 kg (220 lb) 23 – 26 August 1991
F 22 Latvia Māris Gulbis 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) 103 kg (227 lb) 29 – 4 October 1985
PF 24 Latvia Andrejs Gražulis 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) 95 kg (209 lb) 21 – 21 July 1993
SG 31 Latvia Žanis Peiners 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) 96 kg (212 lb) 24 – 2 August 1990
C 33 Latvia Mārtiņš Meiers 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 108 kg (238 lb) 24 – 30 March 1991
PG 44 Greece Nikos Gikas 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) 76 kg (168 lb) 24 – 22 November 1990
F/C 45 United States Jerai Grant 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 102 kg (225 lb) 26 – 10 January 1989
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
  • Latvia Gints Fogels
  • Latvia Kaspars Rūmnieks
  • Latvia Matīss Graudiņš
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured

Roster
Updated: January 15, 2015

Notable players

Notable coaches

Season by season

Season League Pos. Significant Events Baltic League Pos. European competitions
1993–94 LBL 7 – – – –
1994–95 LBL 6 Quarterfinalist – – –
1995–96 LBL 3 Semifinalist – – –
1996–97 LBL 4 Semifinalist – – –
1997–98 LBL 2 Runner-up – – Played Korać Cup
1998–99 LBL 2 Runner-up – – Played Saporta Cup
1999–00 LBL 1 Champion – – Played Saporta Cup
2000–01 LBL 1 Champion – – Played NEBL
2001–02 LBL 1 Champion – – Played NEBL
2002–03 LBL 1 Champion – – FIBA Champions' Cup semifinalist3rd
2003–04 LBL 1 Champion – – Played ULEB Cup
2004–05 LBL 1 Champion Elite Division 4 ULEB Cup quarterfinalist
2005–06 LBL 1 Champion Elite Division 5 Played ULEB Cup
2006–07 LBL 2 Runner-up Elite Division 3 Played ULEB Cup
2007–08 LBL 3 Semifinalist Elite Division 6 Played ULEB Cup
2008–09 LBL 1 Champion Elite Division 7 Played EuroChallenge
2009–10 LBL 3 Semifinalist Elite Division 4 Played Eurocup
2010–11 LBL 2 Runner-up Elite Division 4 EuroChallenge quarterfinalist
2011–12 LBL 2 Runner-up Elite Division 6 EuroChallenge quarterfinalist
2012–13 LBL 2 Runner-up Champion EuroChallenge Last 16
2013–14 LBL 1 Champion Quarterfinalist EuroChallenge Last 16

References

  1. ↑ http://www.delfi.lv/sports/news/basketball/news/lbl-isa-vesture-21-sezona-pieci-cempioni.d?id=42717326&page=2
  2. ↑ BC Prienai - BK Ventspils : 69:91 (Match report) ScoresPro.com
  3. ↑ BK Ventspils - BC Prienai : 70:73 (Match report) ScoresPro.com

External links