BK Ventspils

BK Ventspils
Leagues LBL
Baltic League
Champions League
Founded 1994
History BK Ventspils
1994–present
Arena Ventspils Olympic Center
Arena Capacity 3,085
Location Ventspils, Latvia
Team colors Yellow and Blue
         
President Aivars Lembergs
Head coach Roberts Štelmahers
Championships 9 Latvian Championships
1 BBL Championships
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 Champions League.

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 (7): 1998, 1999, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015
Bronze (4): 1996, 2008, 2010, 2016
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
PG 7 Latvia Ingus Jakovičs 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 82 kg (181 lb) 24 – (1993-04-18)18 April 1993
PF 8 Latvia Māris Ziediņš 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 106 kg (234 lb) 27 – (1990-03-24)24 March 1990
G 9 Latvia Rihards Lomažs 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) 81 kg (179 lb) 21 – (1996-04-13)13 April 1996
PF 14 Latvia Artūrs Bērziņš 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) 106 kg (234 lb) 29 – (1988-06-12)12 June 1988
G 21 Latvia Aigars Šķēle 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) 84 kg (185 lb) 24 – (1992-12-04)4 December 1992
F 22 Latvia Māris Gulbis 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) 103 kg (227 lb) 31 – (1985-10-04)4 October 1985
C 30 Latvia Ronalds Zaķis 2.07 m (6 ft 9 in) 110 kg (243 lb) 30 – (1987-07-08)8 July 1987
C -- Lithuania Julius Jucikas 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 104 kg (229 lb) 27 – (1989-10-20)20 October 1989
SG -- United States Blake Hamilton 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 93 kg (205 lb) 22 – (1994-10-26)26 October 1994
F -- United States Mike Bruesewitz 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 101 kg (223 lb) 26 – (1990-08-09)9 August 1990
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured

Updated: July 31, 2017

Notable players

Notable coaches

Season by season

Season League Pos. Baltic League Pos. European competitions
1993–94 LBL 7th
1994–95 LBL 6th
1995–96 LBL 3rd
1996–97 LBL 4th
1997–98 LBL 2nd Played Korać Cup
1998–99 LBL 2nd Played Saporta Cup
1999–00 LBL 1st Played Saporta Cup
2000–01 LBL 1st Played NEBL
2001–02 LBL 1st Played NEBL
2002–03 LBL 1st FIBA Champions' Cup semifinalist3rd
2003–04 LBL 1st Played ULEB Cup
2004–05 LBL 1st Elite Division 4th ULEB Cup quarterfinalist
2005–06 LBL 1st Elite Division 5th Played ULEB Cup
2006–07 LBL 2nd Elite Division 3rd Played ULEB Cup
2007–08 LBL 3rd Elite Division 6th Played ULEB Cup
2008–09 LBL 1st Elite Division 7th Played EuroChallenge
2009–10 LBL 3rd Elite Division 4th Played Eurocup
2010–11 LBL 2nd Elite Division 4th EuroChallenge quarterfinalist
2011–12 LBL 2nd Elite Division 6th EuroChallenge quarterfinalist
2012–13 LBL 2nd Champion EuroChallenge Last 16
2013–14 LBL 1st Quarterfinalist EuroChallenge Last 16
2014–15 LBL 2nd Runner-up Eurocup Regular season
2015–16 LBL 3rd FIBA Europe Cup Eighthfinals

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
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