BK Ventspils Prepares for Season Opener Following Valmiera Loss

The BK Ventspils basketball team is set to compete in its first official game of the 2026/2027 season, following an opening-week loss to Valmiera Glass/ViA. The team enters the new season with a significantly overhauled roster, aiming to integrate several international signings and returning veterans under the continued leadership of head coach Gints Fogels.

Valmiera Improves Performance After Defeating BK Ventspils

BK Ventspils arrives at this early season stage after a challenging 22-point defeat against Valmiera Glass/ViA. Valmiera head coach Ivars Čoders noted that his team improved its performance against Ventspils compared to their season opener, specifically citing better discipline and defensive energy. Valmiera successfully converted six of 15 three-point attempts in that match, a marked improvement over their earlier struggles with perimeter shooting.

The club has added a significant number of new players to the rotation during the offseason. The roster now includes American forward Ronnie DeGray, power forward and center Romel Mansel, Ukrainian center Bohdan Bryniuk, American guard Isaiah Burnett, and Estonian player Kristen Kasemets. These additions join a core that features club members, including center Ronalds Zaķis, Edvards Mežulis, and Jānis Censonis, who enters his fifth season with the team.

LIBL Schedules Championship Final for April 2027

The Latvian-Estonian Basketball League (LIBL) continues its unified format this season, featuring eight teams from Latvia and seven from Estonia. The Latvian contingent includes BK Ventspils, VEF Rīga, Rīgas Zeļļi, Ogre, Liepāja, Latvijas Universitāte, Rīgas Ekselences Juniori, and the defending champions, Valmiera Glass/ViA. The regular season runs until March 14, 2027, with the top eight teams advancing to the playoffs.

The league has scheduled the championship final for April 10, 2027, with the bronze medal game to be held one day earlier. The competition, which first launched as a combined league in 2019, sees teams face each other in a double round-robin format to determine playoff seeding.

Rīgas Zeļļi Adds National Team Players to Lineup

Rīgas Zeļļi has bolstered its lineup with the addition of Ukrainian national team member Ivan Tkachenko, American guard Ben Shungu, and Latvian national team center Klāvs Čavars. The team also secured a loan deal for U-20 Latvian international Toms Talcis from the EuroLeague club Valencia.

Ventspils has welcomed Toms Salnājs, who returns after two years in the United States. The coaching staff remains stable, with Gints Fogels assisted by Reinis Gubāts and Roberts Prūsis, supported by physical performance coach Edgars Seredjuks.

Upcoming League Schedule

The next set of fixtures features games in Valmiera and Keila.