Valmiera Glass Via (basketball)

Latvian basketball club From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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] From 2021, the club also participates in the European North Basketball League.

Founded2011
ArenaVidzeme Olympic Center
Capacity1500
Quick facts Leagues, Founded ...
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 coachDāvis Čoders
Championships1 LBL
1 Latvian Basketball Cup
1 LatEst Championship
Websitewww.vgvia.lv
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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]

The 2025–26 season was one of the most successful in the club's history. The team was led for his first full season as head coach by Kaspars Vecvagars, for whom it was a debut campaign in the head-coaching role. During the season, Valmiera Glass ViA won three trophies. In February the team claimed the Latvian Basketball Cup, defeating BK Ventspils 84–70 in the final in Ventspils. The final's most valuable player was the club's Lithuanian point guard Dominykas Stenionis, who scored 15 points, made six assists and recorded one steal. In April, Valmiera became champions of the Latvian–Estonian Basketball League for the first time in its history, beating hosts Tartu Ülikool/Maks & Moorits 100–95 in the final in Tartu. Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones was named the most valuable player of the final. In May the club also won the Latvian Basketball League title for the first time. In the best-of-five final series, Valmiera defeated BK Ventspils 3–1, winning the decisive fourth game 92–89 on the road. This was the first time in the LBL's 35-year history that the gold-medal series took place without the participation of a Riga club. Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones was crowned MVP of the final series, capping a season in which Valmiera won all three available domestic titles.

Roster

Current roster

More information Players, Coaches ...
Valmiera Glass ViA 2026-27 roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.Wt.Age
SG 2 Latvia Sipko, Markuss 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 80 kg (176 lb) 19 – (2007-06-08)8 June 2007
PG 3 Lithuania Stenionis, Dominykas 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) 75 kg (165 lb) 24 – (2002-07-03)3 July 2002
C 4 Ukraine Dziuba, Pavlo 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 109 kg (240 lb) 23 – (2003-07-03)3 July 2003
SF 5 New Zealand Tait-Jones, Aniwaniwa 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 91 kg (201 lb) 25 – (2001-01-05)5 January 2001
PG 6 Latvia Vītols, Mārcis 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 87 kg (192 lb) 34 – (1992-05-02)2 May 1992
SF 9 Latvia Ate, Artis (C) 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) 29 – (1997-05-21)21 May 1997
SG 23 Latvia Ozers, Dāvis 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 88 kg (194 lb) 22 – (2004-03-28)28 March 2004
SG 24 Latvia Ozers, Krists Kristers 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) 83 kg (183 lb) 18 – (2008-01-09)9 January 2008
PF 34 Latvia Kalniņš, Jānis Mārtiņš 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) 97 kg (214 lb) 19 – (2007-04-11)11 April 2007
C 7 United States Pacher, Andrew 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 109 kg (240 lb) 34 – (1992-02-17)17 February 1992
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
  • Latvia Normunds Lišiks

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured Injured

Updated: March 10, 2026
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Depth chart

More information Pos., Starting 5 ...
Pos. Starting 5 Bench
C Pavlo Dziuba
PF
SF Artis Ate Dāvis Ozers
SG Jake Heidbreder
PG Mārcis Vītols
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Squad changes for the 2026–27 season

More information No., Pos. ...
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* Left/joined the team during the season

Historical rosters

2025/2026 season roster
Pos. Starting 5 Bench 1 Bench 2 Left team during season
C Bosnia and Herzegovina #29 Omar PajičUnited States #7 Andrew PacherUkraine #4 Pavlo DziubaLatvia #88 Rinalds Mālmanis
PF Latvia #12 Verners KohsLatvia #34 Jānis Mārtiņš Kalniņš
SF New Zealand #5 Aniwaniwa Tait-JonesLatvia #23 Dāvis OzersUnited States #0 Curtis Hollis
SG Latvia #9 Artis Ate CLatvia #1 Kristofers KarlsonsLatvia #24 Krists Kristers Ozers
PG Lithuania #3 Daminykas StenionisLatvia #6 Mārcis VītolsLatvia #2 Markuss Sipko
2024/2025 season roster
Pos. Starting 5 Bench 1 Bench 2
C Ukraine #15 Rostyslav NovitskyiUnited States #2 Kahliel Spear
PF Latvia #12 Verners KohsLatvia #7 Ervīns JonānsUnited States #31 Frankie Policelli
SF Latvia #9 Artis AteLatvia #5 Ričards LibertsLatvia #22 Markuss Sipko
SG Latvia #3 Edmunds Elksnis CLatvia #27 Ojārs BērziņšLatvia #6 Dāvis Ozers
PG United States #1 Daquan SmithLatvia #0 Kristofers KarlsonsCanada #4 Michael Abiodun Nuga

Retired numbers

More information No., Player ...
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]
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Honours

Season by season

More information Season, League ...
Season League Regular
season
Playoffs Latvian Cup European competitions 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[citation needed]
2021–22 LatEstBL 10th overall
(4th in Latvian)
DNQ in League Playoff
QF in Latvian Playoffs[citation needed]
European North Basketball League
RS
0-5
2022–23 LatEstBL 15th overall
(6th in Latvian)
DNQ in League Playoff
QF in Latvian Playoffs[citation needed]
European North Basketball League
RS
0-7
2023–24 LatEstBL 13th overall
(6th in Latvian)
DNQ in League Playoff
QF in Latvian Playoffs
Quarter-finals European North Basketball League
RS
0-7
2024–25 LatEstBL 5th overall
(4th in Latvian)
QF in League Playoff
SF in Latvian Playoffs
Quarter-finals European North Basketball League
QF
6-4
2025–26 LatEstBL 1st overall
(TBD in Latvian)
Champions in League Playoff
TBD
Champions European North Basketball League
R16
5-4
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Notable players

See also

References

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